Newborn gastric aspirate or stool in clean, dry plastic container or tube. Also acceptable: Disposable diaber from hospital nursery or amniotic fluid. Specimen must be visibly bloody, containing fresh ‘red’ blood.
Handling:
Send to the laboratory immediately.
Stability:
24 hours if refrigerated.
Standard Volume:
Complete stool sample.
Minimum Volume:
Any quantity containing visible blood can be tested.
Transport:
Ambient temperature if delivered immediately; refrigerated up to 24 hours if transport delayed.
Comments:
This test is used to distinguish maternal from fetal blood in newborn stool or gastric aspirate.
Rejection Criteria:
Absence of visible blood; delayed ambient specimen or specimen refrigerated more than 24 hours.