Stool For Occult Blood

Also known as Faecal Occult Blood (FOB)

₹139

You need to provide

Stool

This test is for

Male, Female

Test Preparation

Vitamin C when taken in amounts greater than 250 mg per day has been shown to induce false negative results; Rectal medications (suppositories) and iron containing medications may also interfere with these tests and should be discontinued two days before and during the test period with the consent of the physician; For at least 2 days before and during the test period all raw meat and red meat should be avoided. Raw broccoli, cauliflower, radishes and turnips may cause false positive results, hence should be avoided.
Do not use match box or absorbant material. Patient should avoid meat products, pain killers, iron tablets, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and hard tooth brush for 3 days prior to specimen collection.
5g (3g min.) stool in a leak-proof screw capped container.

Understanding Stool For Occult Blood

What is Stool For Occult Blood?

The stool test for occult blood, also called a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) checks the presence of blood in stool that is not visible to the naked eye. Blood in the stool is indicative of some kind of bleeding in the digestive tract which could be indicative of conditions like polyps, ulcers and colorectal cancer.

The fecal occult blood test can only detect the presence or absence of blood, it can't determine what's causing bleeding. This is a simple, inexpensive, and most frequently performed stool test. An FOBT is a screening test that may help find colorectal cancer early when treatment is most effective.

If your test results are positive, additional tests such as a colonoscopy are recommended to figure out the exact location of bleeding.

What is Stool For Occult Blood used for?

To screen for digestive tract bleeding, which may be an indicator of colon cancer, asymptomatic ulcerated lesions of the GI tract, polyps, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, and Colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease).
To evaluate unexpected anemia

Interpreting Stool For Occult Blood results

Interpretations

Normal result: negative means occult blood is not present in the stool.

Positive stool occult blood test means that there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract asymptomatic ulcerated lesions of the GI tract, polyps, hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, Colitis, and colorectal cancer. If stool for occult blood is positive, then additional tests may be required such as colonoscopy in order to detect the exact location and cause of your bleeding.

Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Stool For Occult Blood

Frequently Asked Questions about Stool For Occult Blood

Q. How is stool test for occult blood done?

The stool sample is collected in a leak-proof screw-capped container, and the sample is taken from different areas of the formed stool as they are likely to represent etiologies of different parts of the Gastrointestinal tract. The sample is sent to the Pathology Lab where the 'Hemospot Test' based on the Standard Guaiac method is done for Occult Blood.

Q. What other tests are available to screen carcinoma colon?

Apart from Stool tests like Stool for Occult blood, other screening tests for Colon Carcinoma include flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonography.

Q. Why stool sample from different areas is required?

The stool sample is required from different areas as the samples from the outside of the stool are more likely to reflect the condition of the lower colon whereas specimens from inside of the stool are more likely to reflect the condition of the upper Gastrointestinal tract.

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