Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 78%
Simulated
A nurse is caring for a client who has a prescription for a stool test for guaiac. The nurse understands the purpose of the test is to check the stool for which of the following substances?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Blood. The purpose of a stool test for guaiac is to detect the presence of blood in the stool, which could indicate gastrointestinal bleeding. Guaiac test detects the heme component of blood that is not visible to the naked eye. Parasites (A), steatorrhea (B), and bacteria (C) are not substances specifically detected by a guaiac test. Parasites are usually detected through stool microscopy, steatorrhea is related to fat malabsorption, and bacteria are identified through culture tests.