If your results are positive for either type of fecal occult blood test, it means you likely have bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. But it does not necessarily mean you have cancer. Other conditions that may produce a positive result on a fecal occult blood test include ulcers, hemorrhoids, polyps, and benign tumors.
If your test results are positive for blood, your health care provider will likely recommend additional testing, such as a colonoscopy, to figure out the exact location and cause of your bleeding. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Regular colorectal cancer screenings, such as the fecal occult blood test, are an important tool in the fight against cancer.
Studies show that screening tests can help find cancer early, and may reduce deaths from the disease. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice.
Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. What is a fecal occult blood test? It may be caused by a variety of conditions, including: Polyps Hemorrhoids Diverticulosis Ulcers Colitis , a type of inflammatory bowel disease Blood in the stool may also be a sign of colorectal cancer , a type of cancer that starts in the colon or rectum.
What is it used for? Why do I need a fecal occult blood test? These tests may include: A stool DNA test. For this test, you can use an at-home test kit to take a sample of your stool and return it to a lab. It will be checked for blood and genetic changes that may be signs of cancer. If the test is positive, you will need a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy. There are different tests available, and each one has different recommendations for what to avoid.
Most of the time, your health care provider will tell you to increase your fiber intake. You will also most likely need to avoid:. For some guaiac-based FOBTs, you will need to avoid certain fruits and vegetables.
Ask your health care team or refer to the instructions on your FOBT to know what to avoid and for how long. Before an FIT, you do not need to make any dietary changes but you do need to avoid certain medications. NSAIDs and blood-thinning medications may change the results of your test. Your health care team will let you know what medications to avoid before taking the test.
Talk with your health care team about your medical conditions to decide the best timing for your FOBT. For example, the test should not be taken if you have bleeding hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, or gastritis. You should also not take the test during your menstrual period.
These can give a false-positive result. Your health care provider will give you instructions for how to best collect the stool samples for your FOBT, whether you are doing a guaiac test or an immunochemical test.
There are different brand names for FOBTs, and the instructions can vary for each one. For a guaiac-based FOBT, you will need to collect 3 stool samples. Usually, these samples need to be collected in a clean container. This means that the sample is not mixed with urine or water from the toilet. Your test package will include an applicator.
Use the applicator to put a sample of your stools on the provided cards or slides. You often need to collect samples from more than 1 bowel movement—typically 3 in a row.
You then mail the samples or take them back to the provider or a lab. Follow the directions your provider gave you and that come with the kit. Use a wooden applicator to put a small smear of stool from the outside of the stool on the card or slide you have been given.
A positive result on a fecal occult blood test doesn't mean you have cancer. Other health conditions, such as ulcers or hemorrhoids, more commonly can cause a positive test result. Healthcare providers will do more tests find the cause.
Eating certain food can also affect the test results, even though the fecal occult blood test only detects human blood. Your healthcare provider may ask you to avoid certain foods a few days before the test to lower the chances of getting a false-positive result. Don't take NSAIDs nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or aspirin for 7 days before the test. Acetaminophen is safe to use. If you take aspirin daily to prevent heart disease, talk with your healthcare provider before you stop taking this medicine.
Your doctor may ask you to avoid certain foods or medicines. To ensure accurate test results, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. This simple fecal occult blood test kit may be used at home. First, you place the sheet of special paper on top of the water in the toilet bowl. After you have a bowel movement, you use the sampling stick to collect a small amount of stool that has been deposited on the floating paper.
You then place the sampling stick with the stool sample in the collection container and snap the cap in place. You may either return the sample to your doctor or send it directly to the lab for analysis.
There are several types of fecal occult blood tests, each with a different approach to collecting and testing stool. They include:. The collection method for this test may depend on the manufacturer, but typically, you use a special spoon or other device to collect a sample of stool and store it in a collection container that comes with the test kit. The collection container is then returned to your doctor or a designated lab, by mail or in person.
Immunochemical testing is preferred over the guaiac fecal occult blood test because it's more sensitive. Also, it doesn't require any dietary restrictions before sample collection and testing can often be performed on a random stool sample.
Guaiac fecal occult blood test gFOBT. For this test, your doctor typically gives you test cards that are used to collect stool samples from multiple bowel movements. You collect a stool sample from each of two or three bowel movements in a clean container, usually taken on consecutive days, and then use an applicator stick to apply a smear of stool to a specific area of a card.
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