What is the fecal occult blood test? Why is the test done? Everything around this, that you should know, in this post, and of course our doctors are always there to help you. Just fill in your details in the form below and we will answer all your questions for FREE!
What is a fecal occult blood test?
This test checks stool samples for occult blood. The occult means it is not visible to the naked eye i.e., hidden blood.
Also Read: ANAL FISSURE
What causes blood to appear in stool?
Blood in stool means there is something abnormal in the digestive tract. It could be suggestive of the following conditions:
- Hemorrhoids or piles
- Polyps – colon/ rectum
- Diverticulosis
- Trauma or injury to the digestive tract
- Anal fissures
- Ulcers – sores in the digestive tract
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- Intestinal infections
- Colorectal cancer
What is the significance of fecal occult blood tests?
A fecal occult blood test is commonly used as a screening test for colorectal cancer. It can be used for other conditions also:
- Helps in finding the cause of anemia
- It helps differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as IBD is associated with blood in stool.
But FOBT itself cannot diagnose any condition. If your test result shows blood in the stool, you may need further tests to diagnose the disease.
Why do I need this test?
Your healthcare provide may order you this test if you have certain symptoms like:
- Pain in abdomen
- Fatigue
- Pain around rectum
- Pain while passing stool
- Rectal bleeding
What are the types of FOBT?
There are three types of fecal occult blood tests:
- Guaiac fecal occult blood test – uses a chemical guaiac to detect occult blood
- Fecal immunochemical test – uses antibodies to detect occult blood
- FIT-DNA – screens for DNA alterations associated with colorectal cancer
What do the results mean?
Negative results – If your FOBT shows no traces of blood, it is considered negative.
Positive results – If your FOBT shows occult blood in the stool, it is considered positive and needs further investigations such as a colonoscopy to locate the cause of bleeding.
How often Do I need to repeat this test?
Although colonoscopy should always be preferred to check for colorectal cancer if you’re not having this test done, you should repeat the FOBT every year after the age of 45 years.
