Fecal Occult Blood Test - Healthnile.com

Overview

The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a type of stool test that checks for tiny amounts of blood in a bowel movement. This blood, called occult blood, is not visible to the naked eye. Healthcare professionals use the FOBT to help spot early signs of colorectal problems, such as polyps or cancers.

Key Points:

Other Names: Also called a fecal occult blood test or FOB.
Purpose: Healthcare providers use it as a screening tool, especially for people with no current symptoms.
Detection: The test finds hidden blood in a stool sample, but does not show where the bleeding is coming from.

Occult blood in stool can suggest the presence of growths, called polyps, or even early cancer in the colon or rectum. Polyps aren’t cancer, but they may develop into cancer over time. Not every case of cancer or polyps bleeds, so an FOBT may not catch all cancers.

Important Notes:

People should not use FOBT if they have clear warning signs, like visible blood in the stool, ongoing stomach pain, or new changes in bowel habits.
Healthcare providers do not recommend it as the main test for people with a higher risk for colon cancer, such as those with a family history or previous colon polyps.
If the test finds blood, doctors will order further testing to find the reason.

People should talk with a healthcare provider from Healthnile about their personal risk factors and symptoms before using this screening.

Common Uses of FOBT:

Use Case	Is FOBT Suitable?
No symptoms	Yes
Symptoms present	No
High risk	No

Reasons for Testing

Doctors mainly use a fecal occult blood test to check for hidden blood in stool. Many conditions, such as polyps, ulcers, colitis, or early stages of colorectal cancer, can cause this blood. Finding blood that is not visible in the stool helps doctors detect problems in the digestive tract before symptoms appear.

Key Uses

Screening for colorectal or colon cancer.
Detecting polyps that might turn into cancer.
Checking for ulcers or inflammation like colitis.

Many people choose this test because it is simple, can be done at home, and often costs less than other screening methods. Since it does not require a doctor’s visit or special preparation, it is a practical choice for regular cancer screening.

Possible Issues with Test Results

Test Results May Not Always Be Correct

A fecal occult blood test checks for blood in stool that you cannot see. Sometimes, the test misses blood even if a problem like polyps or cancer exists. This can happen if the bleeding is not constant or too small to detect, leading to a negative result even when issues are present.

On the other hand, finding blood does not always mean there is cancer; ulcers, hemorrhoids, or bleeding from elsewhere in the body can also cause a positive result. Regular testing and good quality control help lower the chance of error.

Result Type	What It Might Mean
False Negative	Problem is missed (polyp or cancer not bleeding)
False Positive	Blood from other source, not due to polyp/cancer

Some Results May Require More Testing

If the test finds blood, doctors usually recommend further steps. A doctor may suggest a colonoscopy or other endoscopy to examine the colon more closely. This process helps find the real cause of the bleeding. More tests can be stressful, take time, and carry risks, but they are important for understanding health conditions.

Getting Ready for the Test

To get accurate results for a fecal occult blood test, people might need to change some daily habits. Healthcare providers often suggest avoiding certain foods, supplements, and medicines before testing. These items can sometimes affect test results. Foods and items to avoid may include:

Rare or undercooked red meat
Some raw fruits and leafy vegetables
Vitamin C (including vitamin C-rich foods and supplements)
Iron supplements
Pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen

Following these instructions may help reduce the chance of false results. Not every test requires the same steps, so patients should always follow the advice given by their healthcare provider from Healthnile.

What you can expect

Steps for Fecal Immunochemical Blood Testing

For a fecal immunochemical test (often called FIT), people use a special test kit to collect a small stool sample. Usually, a stick or small scoop collects the sample from just one bowel movement. The kit includes a sealed container for the sample.

Simple Collection: Collect from only one bowel movement.
No Diet Restrictions: No need to change eating habits or avoid medicines beforehand.
Quick Process: Some kits offer results within minutes, while others require mailing the container to a lab.
Test Kits: Available by prescription or at some drugstores without one.

Once people place the sample in the container, they send or bring it to a lab where staff check for occult blood (hidden blood) using a chemical reaction related to antibodies. People usually receive instructions to help them follow the correct steps.

Type	Number of samples	Results Available	Diet changes needed?	Collection Method
FIT	1	Minutes (in-home) or after lab analysis	None	Stick or scoop in collection container

How the Guaiac-Based Stool Blood Test Is Done

For a guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), users usually collect small samples from three separate bowel movements. Each sample goes onto a special card from the test kit. The card holds the sample for later lab testing.

Multiple Collections: Collect samples from three different bowel movements, usually over several days.
Diet Restrictions: Some foods or medicines may need to be avoided, based on health professional advice.
Varied Kits: Some kits use a flushable pad that changes color if occult blood (hidden blood) is present. With these, you place the pad in the toilet after a bowel movement and check for a color change.

With the sample card, people send it to a lab where a chemical called guaiac tests for blood. For flushable pad kits, people check the color change at home and report results to a healthcare provider.

Type	Number of samples	Results Available	Diet changes needed?	Collection Method
gFOBT	3	After lab analysis or in-home (pad)	Possible	Card or flushable pad

Helpful Tips:

Carefully follow the instructions with any test kit.
Label all samples clearly and seal as directed.
Discuss any questions with a healthcare professional, including those from Healthnile or healthnile.com.

Both types help detect hidden blood in the stool, which could be a sign of different health conditions. Always report results as directed on the test package.

Test Findings

Fecal occult blood test results are typically reported as either negative or positive. A negative outcome means the test did not detect hidden blood in the stool sample. For people with a standard risk for colon cancer, providers may suggest repeating the test every year.

A positive outcome indicates that the test found blood in the stool. This can point to bleeding somewhere in the digestive tract. When this occurs, the healthcare professional may recommend a colonoscopy to identify the cause of the bleeding.

Result Type	What It Means	Next Steps
Negative	No hidden blood in stool	Repeat screening next year
Positive	Hidden blood found, possible bleeding present	Further checks, often colonoscopy