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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffThe fecal occult blood test — also known as FOBT — is a lab test used to check stool samples for hidden (occult) blood.
Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum — though not all cancers or polyps bleed. Typically, occult blood is passed in such small amounts that it can be detected only through the chemicals used in a fecal occult blood test.
If blood is detected through a fecal occult blood test, additional tests may be needed to determine the source of the bleeding. The fecal occult blood test can only detect the presence or absence of blood. The fecal occult blood test doesn't indicate potential sources of bleeding.
- Levin B, et al. Screening and surveillance for the early detection of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps, 2008: A joint guideline from the American Cancer Society, the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, and the American College of Radiology. Gastroenterology. 2008;134:1570.
- Hundt S, et al. Comparative evaluation of immunochemical fecal occult blood tests for colorectal adenoma detection. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2009;150:162.
- Fecal occult blood test: The test sample. American Association for Clinical Chemistry. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fecal_occult_blood/sample.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- Fecal occult blood test: The test. American Association for Clinical Chemistry. http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/fecal_occult_blood/test.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- Bynum TE. Evaluation of occult gastrointestinal bleeding. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 12, 2009.
- Pignone M, et al. Meta-analysis of dietary restriction during fecal occult blood testing. Effective Clinical Practice. 2001;4:150.
- Van Rossum LG, et al. Random comparison of guaiac and immunochemical fecal occult blood tests for colorectal cancer in a screening population. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:82.
