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!
This test checks stool samples for occult blood. The occult means it is not visible to the naked eye i.e., hidden blood.
Blood in stool means there is something abnormal in the digestive tract. It could be suggestive of the following conditions:
A fecal occult blood test is commonly used as a screening test for colorectal cancer. It can be used for other conditions also:
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.
Your healthcare provide may order you this test if you have certain symptoms like:
There are three types of fecal occult blood tests:
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.
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.
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** The text on this website is sourced from websites like emedicine and/or other verified material by government agencies around the globe along with valuable inputs and additions by our team. The content of this page is proofread and updated by the team of doctors, every once in a while, to provide the most accurate information.