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Specimen Collection Manual and Test Catalog

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GASTRIC OCCULT BLOOD AND PH

Geisinger Epic Procedure Code:  LAB3865    Geisinger Epic ID:  144187

SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Specimen type: 

Gastric aspirate


Preferred collection container: 
Specimen required: 

Minimum 0.5 mL.


Special notes: 

This test can only be done "in house" at GWV. The test has to be run immediately after receiving the specimen; therefore, no specimen collected and sent from outside the medical center is acceptable.



SPECIMEN PROCESSING
Transport temperature: 

Deliver immediately to the lab.


Specimen stability: 

Occult blood is stable 24 hours at controlled room temperature 15 to 30°C or 5 days refrigerated at 2 to 8°C. pH must be performed within 1 hour after sample collection.


Rejection criteria: 

Stability limits exceeded.



TEST DETAILS
Reference interval: 

Negative.


Interpretation guide: 

Positive for human hemoglobin (blood) in esphagogastric ulcers or varices.


CPT code(s):  82271, 83986
Note: The billing party has sole responsibility for CPT coding.  Any questions regarding coding should be directed to the payer being billed.
The CPT codes provided by GML are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only.

Test includes: 

Gastric occult blood and pH.


Methodology: 
Guaiac Reaction
Synonyms: 

Gastroccult


Clinical significance: 

This test is to detect the presence of occult blood in a gastric aspirate.


Doctoral Director(s): 
Hoi-Ying Elsie Yu, PhD, DABCC, FADLM
Sheng-Ying (Margaret) Lo, PhD, DABCC
Benjamin Andress, PhD, DABCC
Review Date:  12/30/2024

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