A doctor orders a guaiac test on a patient's stool sample. A nurse identifies that this type of test is used to detect the presence of

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A guaiac test is used to detect the presence of occult blood in stool, which is not visible to the naked eye. Occult blood can indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, which can be a sign of various conditions, including colorectal cancer. Frank blood and melena are two types of visible blood in stool and do not require a guaiac test to detect. Pancreatitis is a condition involving inflammation of the pancreas and would not be detected by a guaiac test.

A Doctor Orders a Guaiac Test on a Patient's Stool