A little concerned

[floridanurse1983]

I was mixing fake stool for my students to do an occult blood test out of chocolate pudding and applesauce. I was surprised it came up positive. Multiple times. I'm trying to place what would cause a positive. Any ideas? For some reason I'm blanking rationale of what would cause a positive.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Any chance that your fingers were bleeding when you were preparing the mixture?

[toomuchbaloney]

Is the apple juice fortified with Vitamin C?

[floridanurse1983]

Any chance that your fingers were bleeding when you were preparing the mixture?

No I was wearing gloves and I used a spoon. Just concerned cause this was from my pantry at home and ate 3 from same batch and now I'm a little creeped out

[floridanurse1983]

Is the apple juice fortified with Vitamin C?

No it's not.

[toomuchbaloney]

I would call the manufacturer and discuss it with them.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

No I was wearing gloves and I used a spoon. Just concerned cause this was from my pantry at home and ate 3 from same batch and now I'm a little creeped out

I'm sorry- this just made me laugh out loud! :)

[OCRN3]

Oo wow! I wonder is the occult blood testing supplies where expired or maybe exposed to extreme heat or cold? I really hope there is no real blood in those products!!!!!! Ewwwwww

[kiszi, RN]

I don't have a clue about the occult blood but I like your creative teaching method! :)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Relax, OP :)

From Fecal Occult Blood Test and Fecal Immunochemical Test: Test Sample

"The guaiac-based gFOBT and the OTC flushable pad/tissue rely on a chemical reaction to produce the color change that gives a positive test. Foods such as red meat, broccoli, turnips, cauliflower, apples, oranges, mushrooms, and horseradish, and drugs such as colchicine and oxidizing drugs (like iodine and boric acid) may also trigger the same chemical reaction and make the test appear positive even in the absence of human blood (a false positive result). You may be instructed to avoid these foods and drugs three days prior to and during the testing period."

You need to come up with a new medium for your test, though...unless you want to have a set of samples that you know intentionally test positive.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Just do what my nursing instructors did. Give all of them a blank test strip and tell them to collect a sample at home and bring it back to class for testing.

[~PedsRN~, BSN, RN]

Just do what my nursing instructors did. Give all of them a blank test strip and tell them to collect a sample at home and bring it back to class for testing.

Gross. ??