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Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), as its name implies, aims to detect subtle blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract, anywhere from the mouth to the colon.Positive tests ("positive stool") may result from either upper gastrointestinal bleeding or lower gastrointestinal bleeding and warrant further investigation for peptic ulcers or a malignancy (such as colorectal cancer or gastric cancer).
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is a diagnostic technique that examines stool samples for traces of non-visible blood, which could potentially indicate conditions including bowel cancer. [1] Symptoms which could be caused by bowel cancer and suggest a FIT include a change in bowel habit, anaemia, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain.
The American College of Gastroenterology has recommended the abandoning of gFOBT testing as a colorectal cancer screening tool, in favor of the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). [3] The newer and recommended tests look for globin , DNA , or other blood factors including transferrin , while conventional stool guaiac tests look for heme .
Both square test areas in the upper area of the card show the intense blue color of a positive result. The lower two smaller circular areas on the orange stripe are analytical control reactions, positive on the left and negative on the right, that help assure that the card and developer bottle have been maintained in proper conditions and have not been damaged before the test is performed.
A positive test is almost always an indication to do a colonoscopy. In most cases the positive result is just due to hemorrhoids ; however, it can also be due to diverticulosis , inflammatory bowel disease ( Crohn's disease , ulcerative colitis ), colon cancer, or polyps .
The M2-PK Test is a non-invasive screening method for the early detection of colorectal cancers and polyps which are known to be the precursors of colorectal cancer. The M2-PK Test which is used for stool analysis is available either as fully quantitative ELISA Test or as a rapid test that can be performed by any general practitioner without the need of a laboratory or any additional equipment.
Although a relatively new test, faecal calprotectin is regularly used as indicator for IBD during treatment and as a diagnostic marker. [6] IBD are a group of conditions that cause a pathological inflammation of the bowel wall. Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are the principal types of inflammatory bowel disease.
The signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer depend on the location of the tumor in the bowel, and whether it has spread elsewhere in the body ().The classic warning signs include: worsening constipation, blood in the stool, decrease in stool caliber (thickness), loss of appetite, loss of weight, and nausea or vomiting in someone over 50 years old. [15]