FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD

Occult blood in the faeces (invisible to the naked eye) can be detected by chemical tests. The blood may be present from any disorder affecting the gastro-intestinal tract or caused by the taking of drugs that irritate the lining. Bleeding may also come from gums and haemorrhoids.

FOB testing at MediChecks.com has been upgraded to an immunological method which are now recognized to provide the best combination of specificity and sensitivity in detecting preclinical colorectal cancer in an asymptomatic population. Other benefits are that patients do not require any dietary restriction and can use hygienically sealed sample vials.

The collection method is easy to follow and lends itself to a three day collection, with no additional cost for testing.

Ease of sample collection for the patient, and a laboratory immunological method now allow the price of testing for more than a one day collection to be readily acceptable for financial as well as clinical reasons

RESULTS: Sensitivities and specificities for colorectal cancer were calculated to be 56% and 97% for a 1-day method, 83% and 96% for the 2-day method, and 89% and 94% for the 3-day method, respectively, showing a significant difference in sensitivity between the 1-day and the 2-day methods, as well as the 3-day method (p < 0.01), and in specificity between the 1-day as well as the 2-day and 3-day methods (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the immunochemical faecal occult blood test is useful for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, and that not less than 2-day testing is recommended as a means of screening for colorectal cancer.

Day 1: 56% and 97%
Day 2: 83% and 96%
Day 3: 89% and 94%