Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

Absolutely not. A positive test indicates bleeding in the digestive system, but this bleeding can also be caused by hemorrhoids, an anal fissure, a stomach ulcer, or intestinal infections.

In every patient with a positive occult blood test, a Colonoscopy (or Endoscopy depending on the situation) must be performed to definitively observe the actual source of the bleeding (tumor, polyp, or inflammation) and take a biopsy if necessary.

With developing new generation immunity-based (immunochemical) tests, there is no need to apply a prior ban on red meat or iron supplements (diet). While on a normal diet, the patient takes a small sample into a special container provided by the hospital and delivers it to the laboratory.