Fecal Occult Blood Test Overview

A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a test to detect the presence of blood in the stool (feces).

Prior to Test

A positive FOBT does not mean you have cancer. Other things can cause a positive test. Minor stomach bleeding from certain medicines or hemorrhoids or eating certain foods can cause a positive test. To help avoid this, you can try to:

• Avoid certain medicines and foods:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen , naproxen, or aspirin for seven days prior to testing (If these are taken daily for medical conditions, consult your doctor before discontinuing.)
• Red meats for three days before testing
• Cantaloupe, uncooked vegetables, blood sausage, and possibly Tabasco sauce for three days before testing
• Wait until your hemorrhoids are not bleeding.
• Avoid having the test during your menstrual period.
• Avoid cleaning your toilet bowl for several days before the test. Chemicals from the cleanser can affect the test.

Description of Test

The test is most often done at home.

You will set up the kit according to the instructions when you are ready to have a bowel movement. The kit should allow you to collect three samples of stool. Some kits provide a disposable container into which you can pass your bowel movement. Other kits provide you with tissue paper or plastic wrap that you can lay in the toilet to keep your stool sample from sinking into the water.

Using thin wooden sticks provided with the kit, you will pick up a very small sample of stool. You will then smear the sample onto a special card. The card folds over to protect the stool sample.

After Test

You will mail or deliver the cards to the clinic or lab. Make sure you have written your name on each card.

How Long Will It Take?

The test should only take a few minutes.

Will It Hurt?

This test will not hurt.

If blood is found in your stool, you may be asked to have additional tests. These tests will help to determine the cause of the bleeding. Although cancer may be one cause of blood in the stool, there are many other causes.

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Family Physicians
http://www.aafp.org/

Senior Health
National Institutes of Health
http://nihseniorhealth.gov/listoftopics.html/

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Digestive Health Foundation
http://www.cdhf.ca/

Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index-eng.php/

References:

Can colorectal polyps and cancer be found early? Colorectal cancer screening. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI243XCancolonandrectumcancerbefound_early.asp . Updated May 2009. Accessed July 24, 2009.

Causes of occult and obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home.html . Accessed on February 7, 2003.

Guide to diagnostic tests: fecal occult blood test. Harvard Medical School Health Publications website. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/fecal-occult-blood-test.htm . Accessed on July 24, 2009.

Home stool testing kit a better screening tool. American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp . Published March 2001. Accessed on February 7, 2003.

Pignone M, Campbell M, Carr C, et al. Proposed Effects of Dietary and Medication Restrictions during FOBT with guaiac-based tests. Meta-analysis of dietary restriction during fecal occult blood testing. Effective Clinical Practice. 2001;4:150-156.