What is fecal occult blood testing commonly known as?

Fecal occult blood testing is commonly referred to as the Guaiac Test because it utilizes guaiac, a natural dye obtained from the resin of certain trees, to detect the presence of blood in stool samples. The test is based on the principle that the presence of hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen) can cause a color change when mixed with guaiac in the presence of an appropriate developer reagent. This test is significant in medical practice as it helps screen for gastrointestinal bleeding, which may indicate conditions such as colorectal cancer, polyps, or gastrointestinal ulcers.

Other options do not relate to fecal occult blood testing; stool culture is used to identify specific pathogens in stool samples, Hemoglobin A1C measures average blood glucose levels over time for diabetes management, and serum electrolytes evaluate the balance of minerals in the body to assess various health conditions. Thus, these options do not provide the same diagnostic function or relevance as the Guaiac Test.