Fecal Immunochemical Test and Fecal Occult Blood Test

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  • Also Known As:
  • Stool Occult Blood
  • Fecal Occult Blood Test
  • FOBT
  • Guaiac-based FOBT
  • gFOBT
  • Fecal Immunochemical Test
  • FIT
  • iFOBT
  • Hemoccult
  • Formal Name:
  • Occult Blood Test
  • Fecal
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Tips on Blood Testing

At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To screen for digestive tract bleeding, which may be an indicator of colon cancer

When To Get Tested?

  • The American Cancer Society recommends screening for colon cancer between the ages of 45 and 75, while the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (MSTF) on Colorectal Cancer and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend screening starting at age 50. Screening annually is usually recommended if an occult blood test is used.
  • When there is a suspicion that you have gastrointestinal bleeding

Sample Required?

Stool samples are required. The sampling procedure depends on the choice of test, and the samples may be collected in the privacy of your home. (See the section “What is being tested?” below for more details.)

Test Preparation Needed?

For the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which is the preferred test, no preparation is necessary. For the guaiac-based FOBT (gFOBT, FOBT), you will be instructed to avoid certain medications and follow certain dietary restrictions for several days before collecting the stool samples.

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Looking For Test Results?

Looking For Reference Ranges?

You may be able to find your test results on your laboratory’s website or patient portal. However, you are currently at Lab Tests Online. You may have been directed here by your lab’s website in order to provide you with background information about the test(s) you had performed. You will need to return to your lab’s website or portal, or contact your healthcare practitioner in order to obtain your test results.

Lab Tests Online is an award-winning patient education website offering information on laboratory tests. The content on the site, which has been reviewed by laboratory scientists and other medical professionals, provides general explanations of what results might mean for each test listed on the site, such as what a high or low value might suggest to your healthcare practitioner about your health or medical condition.

The reference ranges for your tests can be found on your laboratory report. They are typically found to the right of your results.

If you do not have your lab report, consult your healthcare provider or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range.

Laboratory test results are not meaningful by themselves. Their meaning comes from comparison to reference ranges. Reference ranges are the values expected for a healthy person. They are sometimes called “normal” values. By comparing your test results with reference values, you and your healthcare provider can see if any of your test results fall outside the range of expected values. Values that are outside expected ranges can provide clues to help identify possible conditions or diseases.

While accuracy of laboratory testing has significantly evolved over the past few decades, some lab-to-lab variability can occur due to differences in testing equipment, chemical reagents, and techniques. This is a reason why so few reference ranges are provided on this site. It is important to know that you must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are “within normal limits.”

For more information, please read the article Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

Both the FIT and FOBT are designed to evaluate stool samples for hidden (“occult”) blood, meaning blood that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Although there are several possible causes of blood in the stool, one important cause is the presence of polyps or cancers in the digestive tract.

Colon polyps are common as people age, but most polyps do not cause any health problems and are benign. However, a benign polyp can turn into a cancerous polyp and the cancer may even spread to other parts of the body (metastasize). If detected early, colon cancer can be successfully treated. It is therefore important to determine whether pre-cancerous or cancerous polyps are present.

Polyps are finger-like growths that protrude into the cavity (lumen) of the colon or the rectum. They can be fragile and bleed intermittently, such as when food waste brushes against them. This blood is mixed in with the stool and when the amounts are small, the blood can only be detected by tests for occult blood. This small amount of blood may be the first and sometimes the only sign of polyps or early colon cancer, making the stool-based tests valuable screening tools.

There are two principal methods for detecting occult blood in the stool. They are designed to detect hemoglobin, a molecule that is present in red blood cells. Hemoglobin has two essential parts: a chemical part called heme and a protein part called globin. Each method tests for a different part of the hemoglobin molecule.

  • The Immunochemical method (FIT) tests for the globin (protein) part of hemoglobin and FITs are designed to specifically detect human globin. FIT generally will not detect globin from non-human blood such as found in beef and other meats, thereby making them superior to other tests. Hemoglobin from bleeding in the upper digestive tract is broken down before it reaches the lower digestive tract and so upper GI bleeds are not usually detected by the FIT. However, most health organizations, including the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (MSTF) on Colorectal Cancer and the American Cancer Society recommend this test for screening for colon cancer.
  • The guaiac-based tests (gFOBT, FOBT) measure the heme (non-protein) part of hemoglobin from blood in the stool. Since the heme part of hemoglobin is common to blood from all sources, this method identifies the presence of blood from any source. This means that FOBTs will measure not only your blood but also blood from any dietary source, such as red meat, thereby causing false-positive test results. Compared to the FIT, these methods have other limitations. Some foods and medications can interfere with this method, so you may be instructed to avoid them for a few days prior to testing. Since the heme part of hemoglobin is resistant to degradation in the intestine, these tests also detect blood from other areas of the digestive tract, such as from bleeding stomach ulcers and bleeding gums. They are therefore less specific than the FIT for the detection of bleeding from the colon.

How is the sample collected for testing?

Typically, you will be supplied with a kit to use at home. The collection method may vary based on the specific manufacturer of the kit. Follow the instructions that are provided with the kit. Multiple stool samples may have to be collected on different days and after the last sample is taken, all of the samples are brought to or mailed to your healthcare practitioner or laboratory.

  • For FIT, a common approach is to use a brush or other device to collect a sample from the surface of a stool, which is then inserted into a sample tube containing a solution and sent for testing. Generally, a single sample is required.
  • For guaiac-based FOBT, the healthcare practitioner or laboratory will provide a test card that can have 1, 2 or 3 sections. The triple card is most commonly used. Stool should be collected into clean containers and should not be contaminated with urine or water. Using an applicator stick, a sample is collected from the surface of the stool and placed onto the specially treated pad on the test card and allowed to dry. When using cards with multiple test areas, the samples for each test area are collected on different days. For example, a 3-section card requires 3 stools, each collected on a different day. Collecting and testing multiple stool samples increases the chance of detecting cancer if it is present.

Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

For the FIT, there are no particular restrictions prior to testing. The test uses antibodies to detect only human blood from the lower digestive tract (colon).

For guaiac FOBTs, there are various restrictions:

  • These tests detect the heme part of any blood that may be in the digestive tract. Therefore, steps should be taken to avoid introducing blood from any source other than your own into the digestive tract for a few days prior to the test. This includes avoiding various meats and especially red meat.
  • Blood that arises from bleeding gums (caused by dental procedures or gum disease) may be detected by these tests. Avoid having any dental procedures up to three days before beginning to collect stool samples.
  • Stomach bleeds such as caused by ulcers should be controlled prior to testing.
  • Bleeding in the stomach may be triggered by the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. Avoid taking these drugs for seven days prior to testing, if clinically possible.
  • The test relies on a chemical reaction to produce the color change that gives a positive test. Foods such as broccoli, turnips, cauliflower and apples, and drugs such as colchicine may make the test appear positive even in the absence of blood (a false-positive result). If instructed to do so, avoid these foods and drugs three days prior to and during the testing period.
  • Vitamin C, on the other hand, interferes with the chemical reaction and prevents the color formation that should occur when blood is present (a false-negative result). Vitamin C supplements and fruit juices that contain vitamin C should be avoided three days prior to and during testing.

Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare practitioner or included in test kit. Check with your healthcare provider before stopping any drugs to be certain that it is safe to do so.

 

Common Questions

How is the test used?

The main use of tests for occult blood in the stool (FIT and FOBT) is to screen for colon polyps or early colon cancer in people with average risk. Blood in the stool may be the only sign of early colon cancer. If detected early, treatment can begin immediately, improving the chance of a cure. Persons with average risk include those without a family history of colon cancer and those without certain genetic diseases.

The FIT is preferred over the gFOBT because it is better at detecting cancer and it doesn’t require dietary restrictions before testing, according to the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (MSTF) on Colorectal Cancer.

For people with an increased or high risk of colon cancer, a colonoscopy is usually recommended for screening because it is the most accurate and thorough screen available. See the article on Colon Cancer or the health screening articles for Adults and Adults age 50 and older for additional details.

A secondary use of occult blood testing is to help determine if a person’s anemia is due to blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), such as from a bleeding ulcer. If someone has signs and symptoms of anemia, such as fatigue, a low hemoglobin and hematocrit level, and/or unusually dark stools, a healthcare practitioner may order the FOBT. As noted above, the FOBT can detect blood from any part of the GI tract, while the FIT is more reliable in cases of bleeding from the lower part of the GI tract.

When is it ordered?

The American Cancer Society (ACS), the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force (MSTF) on Colorectal Cancer and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend yearly testing when you choose occult blood testing (FIT or FOBT) as the method of screening for colon cancer. The ACS advises that people of average risk begin screening at age 45. The MSTF and USPSTF advise that screening for colon cancer begin at age 50.

A healthcare practitioner may sometimes order an FOBT when someone has unexplained anemia that might be caused by bleeding in the digestive tract.

What does the test result mean?

A negative fecal occult blood test means no blood was detected in the stool at the time of the test.

For the FIT, a positive result indicates abnormal bleeding in the lower digestive tract. While this bleeding could be caused by colon cancer, other possible causes include ulcers, polyps or hemorrhoids.

For the guaiac-based FOBT, a positive test result indicates that abnormal bleeding may be occurring somewhere in the digestive tract. This blood loss could be due colon cancer or to cancerous tumors. It could also be due to benign polyps, to ulcers, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids or to blood swallowed due to bleeding gums or nosebleeds.

A positive result from either method requires follow-up testing. This usually involves direct imaging of the colon and rectum. A colonoscopy is typically recommended because it allows examination of the colon and the removal of any precancerous polyps and/or cancerous areas that are found.

Is there anything else I should know?

Bleeding, especially from polyps and tumors, is intermittent, so blood is not uniformly distributed in all stool samples. Taking multiple samples on different days increases the chance of detecting bleeding that is intermittent. This is especially true for FOBT. The FIT is more sensitive, so a single sample is usually considered acceptable.

An occult blood test (FIT or FOBT) can give a false-negative result if the cancer or polyps do not bleed during the time the sample is taken. In the absence of polyps or colon cancer, a false-positive result may be obtained if you have bleeding from other sources, such as hemorrhoids, ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.

Both FIT and FOBT can be performed in people with common hemoglobin disorders (hemoglobinopathies), such as sickle cell disease.

I’ve heard of a stool DNA test for colon cancer screening. What is it?

There is a combination stool DNA-FIT test available. The test detects occult blood plus certain genetic variations in cancer cells that are shed into the stool. Guidelines from the US Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer recommend the stool DNA-FIT as a tier 2 test. It is a tier 2 test because it has some disadvantages compared to the recommended tier 1 tests, colonoscopy, and annual FIT. (See the article on Colon Cancer for additional details on screening options.) If you choose the DNA-FIT method of screening, it is advised that you repeat it every 3 years, as long as the results are negative.

Other than stool tests, are there other ways of screening for colon cancer?

Yes. There are imaging tests that may be used for the detection of precancerous polyps and colon cancer. One of these procedures may be chosen instead of screening annually with a fecal occult blood test:

  • Colonoscopy is recommended by most health organizations as the preferred method of screening for colon cancer. It involves a thorough examination of the rectum and entire colon using a flexible tube. If polyps or potentially cancerous areas are found, they may be removed during the procedure and examined by a pathologist to see if cancer is present. It is recommended every 10 years for average-risk individuals. Colonoscopy however requires significant preparation, is invasive, and is much costlier than tests for occult blood in the stool. In individuals with abnormal results on screening tests such as FOBT, colonoscopy is then used as a diagnostic test for colon cancer.
  • Sigmoidoscopy is an examination of the rectum and lower colon with a lighted instrument. It also allows for the removal of any polyps. If this is the chosen method of screening, once every 5 to 10 years is recommended.
  • CT colonoscopy (virtual colonoscopy) is a less invasive procedure that uses computed tomography (a CT scan) to visualize the entire colon. The recommended screening interval is 5 years.
  • Capsule colonoscopy is a procedure which uses a vitamin-sized capsule that is swallowed and contains a wireless camera that transmits pictures as it travels through the digestive tract. Not enough evidence is available on this test yet and it is not widely available. If chosen for screening, it should be done every 5 years.

Are there over-the-counter (OTC) at-home FOBTs and are they just as good as stool tests performed by laboratories?

Several home FOBT tests are available and while they are fairly sensitive, your healthcare practitioner may prefer a test performed by laboratories. Laboratory professionals are more experienced than most people in interpreting results and are more familiar with sources of false-negative and false-positive results. Read the article With Home Testing, Consumers Take Charge of Their Health to find out more about the pros and cons of home tests.

What kind of procedures might follow a positive FOBT or FIT?

An FOBT or FIT may be preceded or followed by a digital rectal exam to detect any growths that may be present in the rectum. The DRE is primarily performed to examine the prostate gland in men but also allows for the examination of the lower rectum, pelvis, and belly. Most colon cancers, however, are beyond the detection range of a DRE.

It is recommended that a positive FOBT or FIT be followed by colonoscopy, which enables the healthcare practitioner to examine the entire colon and to identify and remove any precancerous polyps or cancerous areas.

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