Test ID: HQ
HemoQuant, Feces
Secondary ID 
A test code used for billing and in test definitions created prior to November 2011
NY State Approved Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Detection of blood in feces
HemoQuant is the most appropriate fecal occult blood test to use in the evaluation of iron deficiency
Other useful applications include the detection of bleeding as a complication of anticoagulant therapy and other medication regimens
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Fluorescence Quantitation
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Fecal Blood
Occult Blood, Feces
Stool for Blood
Stool, Hemoquant
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Collection Container/Tube: Spoon-like sampler from kit (Supply T134)
Submission Container/Tube: Screw-capped tube
Specimen Volume: 1 g
Collection Instructions: Collect random specimen from a single defecation.
Additional Information: Patient should be instructed to refrain from red meat and aspirin for 3 days prior to specimen collection.
Forms: If not ordering electronically, submit a General Request Form (Supply T239) with the specimen.
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Lipemia | NA |
| Icterus | NA |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fecal | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Ambient | 7 days | |
| Frozen | ||
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Several noninvasive tests are available to detect gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. However, guaiac type and immunochemical tests for occult bleeding are affected by the presence of reducing or oxidizing substances and are insensitive for the detection of proximal gut bleeding, where most clinically significant occult GI bleeding occurs.
The HemoQuant test is the most reliable, noninvasive test currently available for detecting bleeding of the esophago-GI tract. Unlike other tests for blood in feces, this test detects both intact heme and porphyrins from partly degraded heme. Additionally, test results are not complicated by either the water content of the specimen or the presence of reducing or oxidizing substances. Furthermore, HemoQuant testing is sensitive to both proximal and distal sources of occult GI bleeding.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Normal:
< or =2.0 mg total hemoglobin/g feces
Marginal:
2.0-3.0 mg total hemoglobin/g feces
2.0-4.0 mg total hemoglobin/g feces*
Elevated:
>3.0 mg total hemoglobin/g feces
>4.0 mg total hemoglobin/g feces*
*Alternative reference values for persons who have ingested red meat or aspirin during any of the 3 days preceding specimen collection.
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
Elevated levels are an indicator of the presence of blood in the feces, either from benign or malignant causes.
This test is not specific for bowel cancer.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Heme from ingested red meat will increase HemoQuant test values. Patients should be advised to avoid eating red meat for 3 days before collecting specimens. Fish and poultry may be substituted.
The elevated porphyrins of intoxication porphyria, erythrocytic protoporphyria, and variegate porphyria may raise HemoQuant values in the absence of gut bleeding.
Recent studies have indicated that cancerous lesions in their early stages often do not bleed or bleed only intermittently.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Ahlquist DA, McGill DB, Schwartz S, et al: HemoQuant, a new quantitative assay for fecal hemoglobin: comparison with Hemoccult. Ann Intern Med 1984;101:297-302
2. Ahlquist DA, Wieand HS, Moertel CG, et al: Accuracy of fecal occult blood screening for colorectal neoplasia: a prospective study using Hemoccult and HemoQuant tests. JAMA 1993;269:1262-1267
3. Harewood GC, McConnell JP, Harrington JJ, et al: Detection of occult upper gastrointestinal bleeding: performance differences in fecal blood tests. Mayo Clin Proc 2002;77(1):23-28
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Hemoglobin and the heme released by hemoglobin degradation are converted to porphyrins. These porphyrins are quantified by fluorescence measurement after extraction of any interfering fluorescing substances.(Schwartz S, Dahl J, Ellefson M, Ahlquist D: The "HemoQuant" test: a specific and quantitative determination of heme [hemoglobin] in feces and other materials. Clin Chem 1983;29:2061-2067)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Saturday
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
84126
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 9220 | Hemoquant, F | 27396-1 |
| 2410 | Fecal Hemoglobin | 27396-1 |
| 2413 | Dietary Status | 11320-9 |
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