Patent ID: 7427505

Claim:
A method of testing for the presence of blood in fecal matter using a testing device having: a first panel having a first aperture for receiving a first specimen and a second aperture for receiving a second specimen and forming a first exterior surface of the device; a second panel opposite the first panel and forming a second exterior surface of the device; a sheet disposed between the first and second panels for receiving at least the first specimen through the first aperture, wherein the sheet includes a test area having a reagent for possible reaction to the first specimen as part of a primary test procedure; and a reagent-free removable tab, integrally formed from the second panel, the removable tab being a portion of the second panel and forming a part of the second exterior surface and accessible from an exterior of the device, the tab having a first portion, which is aligned with the second aperture on the first panel for receiving the second specimen and available for use in a secondary test procedure and a specimen-free second portion, which is not aligned with any aperture on the first panel and which comprises a specimen-free grasping area, the method comprising: obtaining a primary specimen from a first area of the fecal matter via the first aperture on the testing device; obtaining a secondary specimen from the first area of the fecal matter via the second aperture on the first portion of the removable tab of the testing device; testing the primary specimen for the presence of blood using a non-specific test; if the testing of the primary sample indicates the presence of blood, removing the removable tab by pulling the specimen-free grasping area of the second portion of the removable tab such that the removable tab is separated from the testing device, the first portion of the removable tab having at least a portion of the secondary specimen; and testing the secondary specimen for the presence of blood using a specific test, wherein the testing of the secondary specimen occurs once the removable tab is removed from the testing device and facilitates either identification of a false positive result from the testing of the primary specimen with the non-specific test or confirmation of positive result from the testing of the primary specimen.