The Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test can be performed in a laboratory, or as a “side-room” test in the hospital or doctor’s rooms. It involves placing a small amount of stool in contact with a small tablet, with a drop of water. If the tablet changes colour (usually to blue) it indicates a strong possibility of microscopic amounts of blood being present in the stool.
A Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test may be requested by your doctor if there is a suspicion of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract. Small amounts of blood loss that are not visible in the stools can be detected by this test. FOB is often performed in the setting of anaemia (low Haemoglobin or “blood count”), especially if this is due to iron deficiency, it may point to chronic (i.e., over a long period of time) blood loss from the stomach or bowel. A positive FOB test can be caused by any condition that causes bleeding from the stomach, small intestine, or colon, as well as swallowed blood, for example from a nosebleed (epistaxis). Typical examples include an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum, inflammation anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, or even a tumour of the colon or rectum.
Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) may be reported as:
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