• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • COVID-19 INFO
  • learn More
inSite Digestive Health Care
  • Find a
    location
  • Patient
    Portal
  • Telehealth
  • online
    Bill Pay
  • Appointment
  • Home
  • About
    • Careers
    • Clinical Research
  • Providers
  • Locations
  • For Patients
    • New Patients
    • Prep Instructions
    • Telehealth
    • Patient Education
    • COVID-19 Precautions
    • Insurances Accepted
    • FAQs
    • Policies
  • Conditions
    • Upper GI Disorders
    • Lower GI Disorders
    • Functional GI Disorders
    • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    • Liver Disease
    • Hemorrhoids
  • Procedures
    • Colonoscopy
    • Upper GI Endoscopy
    • Esophageal Dilation
    • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
    • Endoscopic Ultrasound
    • Capsule Endoscopy
    • Esophageal Manometry
    • Outpatient Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastronomy
    • Hemorrhoid Therapy
    • Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio-Pancreatography (ERCP)
    • Fibroscan
    • Abdominal Pelvic Ultrasound
    • Nutritional Services
    • Telehealth Consultations
  • Shop
  • Contact Us
    • Find a
      location
    • Patient
      Portal
    • Telehealth
    • online
      Bill Pay
  •  

What You Need To Know About Fecal Occult Blood Tests

November 11, 2022

Doctor holding sample container with feces or stool for occult blood test

For patients who are not comfortable with colonoscopy, the doctor might recommend a fecal occult blood test. A fecal occult blood test is a diagnostic tool used to detect the presence of hidden blood in the stool. This type of testing is used to screen for colorectal cancer or other gastrointestinal disorders, and is generally non-invasive and easy to perform, making it a popular choice among patients.

If you are considering a fecal occult blood test, continue reading. In this blog, we will discuss how this test is done and its benefits.

How is a Fecal Occult Blood Test Performed?

There are two types of FOBTs: guaiac-based and immunochemical. Guaiac-based FOBTs (g-FOBT) detect the presence of hemoglobin in the stool, which can be an indication of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Immunochemical FOBTs (i-FOBT) specifically look for human blood in the stool, which is more accurate than guaiac-based testing. The sensitivity for detecting cancer is 82% for i-FOBT and 64.3% for g-FOBT.

The test is performed by placing a stool sample on a card that contains chemicals that change color when they come into contact with blood. You can perform a fecal occult blood test at home, and it typically requires three different stool samples for greater accuracy. The card is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.

If the results of the fecal occult blood test are positive, it does not necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer. Other serious conditions can also cause positive FOBT results. If you have a positive result, your doctor will likely order additional tests to confirm the diagnosis.

What Are the Benefits of a Fecal Occult Blood Test?

There are several advantages of using this type of test over other methods, such as colonoscopy. First, the test is less likely to cause discomfort or embarrassment, which are factors that can make patients avoid colonoscopy, as the test allows you to be discreet. Second, preparing for a fecal occult blood test does not involve the intake of bowel prep and a liquid diet. Doctors do recommend not consuming red meat or red or purple vegetables, such as beetroot, and not taking vitamin C and certain medications before performing the test. After the test, you should be able to consume the foods and medications that you normally do.

An FOBT does have its limitations, and a colonoscopy is still considered the gold standard for detecting colon cancer. Talk to your GI specialist to help you make the right decision for your care.

Fecal Occult Blood Tests in California

At insite Digestive Care, we offer different tests that help with diagnosing colorectal cancer. Deciding which test is right for you can be difficult, as each test has its strengths and weaknesses. Our GI specialists are committed to your GI health and will help you make an informed decision. We are a large GI practice, with many locations across California. To schedule an appointment with one of our GI doctors, call our GI clinic nearest you or use our convenient online request form.

Filed Under: Fecal Occult Blood Test Tagged With: best gi clinic near me, best gi specialist near me, Fecal Occult Blood Test In California, Fecal Occult Blood Test Near Me, Fecal Occult Blood Tests in California, Fecal Occult Blood Tests near me, gastroenterologist California, gastroenterologist clinic in California

Primary Sidebar

November 2022
M T W T F S S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930  
« Oct   Dec »

Categories

  • Anoscopy
  • Blood stool
  • bravo testing
  • Colon cancer
  • Colonoscopy
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Digestive Health
  • EGD Test
  • Endoscopy
  • Enteroscopic Surgery
  • ERCP
  • Fecal Occult Blood Test
  • FibroScan
  • Gastroenterologist
  • Gastroenterology
  • Gastroenterology Clinic
  • General
  • GI Disorders
  • H.Pylori Test
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Hepatology
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • manometry test
  • Medications
  • News
  • Nutrition
  • Pill Camera
  • Stool fat
  • Stool Test
  • Telehealth Services
  • Uncategorized
  • Weight Loss

Tags

best gastroenterologist near me Best GI Clinic best gi clinic near me best GI doctor near me best gi specialist near me colon cancer colon cancer diagnosis colon cancer risk Colon Cancer screening Colon Cancer screening near me colonoscopy colonoscopy appointment colonoscopy California colonoscopy in California colonoscopy near me Colonoscopy Prep colonoscopy procedure Colonoscopy Procedure near me Colorectal Cancer Digestive Health digestive health care near me endoscopy California endoscopy in California Endoscopy near me gastroenterologist California gastroenterologist clinic in California gastroenterologist clinic near me gastroenterologist in California gastroenterologist near me Gastroenterologists near me Gastroenterology Clinic Gastroenterology Clinic in California Gastroenterology Clinic near me gastrointestinal care GI care GI Clinic in California GI Clinic near me gi doctor in California gi doctor near me GI specialist in California GI specialist near me Hemorrhoid treatment near me inSite Digestive Health Care Irritable Bowel Syndrome treatment Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy near me

Footer

Our
Blog

Keep up with the latest developments in gastroenterology as well as news about our practice and the events we sponsor.

Learn More

Patient
Education Library

Learn about the symptoms and treatments for some of the most common GI conditions and disorders we treat.

Learn More

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Find a Location
  • Online Bill Pay
  • Patient Portal
  • Telehealth
  • About
  • Our Provider
  • Conditions
  • Services & Procedures
  • For Patients
  • Shop
  • Blog
  • Patient Education
  • Locations
  • Request an Appointment
  • Contact Us

Policies

  • Terms and Conditions
  • Terms of Use
  • Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)
  • Aviso de Prácticas de Privacidad
  • Non-Discrimination Policy
  • Financial Policy
  • Return Policy

Resources

  • COVID-19 Precautions
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sitemap
Copyright © · inSite Digestive Health Care · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

inSite Digestive Health Care, now Genesis Healthcare Partners, an affiliate of Unio Health Partners, offers diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal system with locations across all of California.