title: Guaiac interpretation by non-certified clinicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the ability of non-certified clinicians to interpret guaiac test results.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 clinicians were shown photographs of 20 guaiac test cards. They were asked to classify these as positive, negative, or uncertain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31 nurses, 4 clinical assistants, 7 emergency attending MDs, 2 resident MDs, and 6 medical students comprised the study group. Mean correct percentages for 15 clearly positive or negative guaiac test cards ranged from 87% to 96% in each of the above groups. Correct results were lower for five of the borderline positive guaiac cards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that all clinician groups correctly interpreted the guaiac result most of the time, but there was a moderate error rate. This data supports the Joint Commission standard for this particular point of care test; clinicians interpreting guaiac testing should be trained with demonstrated competency.
authors.affiliation: Kapi'olani Medical Center For Women & Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawai'i John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: Stuart I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Loren G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D006138:Guaiac; D006801:Humans; D009780:Occult Blood
chemical_list: D006138:Guaiac
keywords: Guaiac; certification; interpretation