Stool Occult Blood Test - Price, Purpose, Results, & Procedure

Table of Content

Introduction to Stool Occult Blood Test

An occult blood test is performed to find small traces of blood in a stool sample that you can’t detect yourself. Blood in your stool is not good, as it may indicate an underlying medical condition. A healthcare provider may suggest a stool occult blood test as a screening tool for the early detection of cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum. 

Polyps are not cancerous cells, but they could become one. Stool sample analysis helps a healthcare provider with valuable information regarding your gastrointestinal system. Bleeding that is not so visible may indicate an issue with your digestive tract and cause mild to severe irritation to serious conditions such as colorectal cancer. 

Also known as a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), this test limits whether bleeding is present. However, it doesn’t find the actual source of bleeding. Besides, the test is irrelevant if you have symptoms of colon cancer, such as blood in your stool or the toilet, pain in your abdomen, and changes in your bowel movements.

Talk to your doctor and get the best solution possible. Redcliffe Labs is all you need to book a stool occult blood test with home sample collection. You can call or download the Redcliffe Labs mobile app to book the test online. The phlebotomist will come to your doorstep for stool collection and submit it at the designated lab. The lab experts will analyze the stool sample and generate a report. 

So, why wait? Book a stool occult blood test with Health India Ki Trusted Lab, Redcliffe Labs, at pocket-friendly rates. Early and accurate diagnosis helps make informed choices and treatment plans. 

Test Details:

What are the main causes of bleeding in the stool?

The bleeding in your stool indicates bleeding in your digestive tract and is caused by the following reasons: 

• Polyps: This condition indicates the abnormal lining of the colon. Colon polyps don't cause any harm, but they can be dangerous as they tend to become cancerous and thus need to be removed. 
• Hemorrhoids: During this condition, there is swelling in your veins or lower rectum. The inflamed veins can cause discomfort and bleeding. 
• Diverticulosis is very common among people over the age of 40. Symptoms are not present unless the diverticula becomes inflamed or infected, resulting in fever and abdominal pain. 
• Ulcers: Open sores on the upper part of the small intestine and the stomach's inner lining are called ulcers. Ulcers, or peptic ulcers, are usually formed by bacteria living in the digestive tract. 
• Colitis indicates inflammation in your colon. It can cause pain, diarrhea, or blood in your stool. 
• Colorectal cancer forms in the colon’s or rectum’s tissues. Environmental exposures, such as alcohol consumption, tobacco use, and a low-fiber and high-fat diet mainly, cause it. 

What is the purpose of the stool occult blood test?

The purpose of the stool occult blood test is to help you find colorectal cancer due to symptoms such as abdominal pain, fatigue, rectal bleeding, or pain around your rectum. 

The test looks for blood in the sample of your stool. Usually, colorectal cancer has no symptoms, but through this risk, it becomes easier for the healthcare provider to detect if you have an average risk of colon cancer. 

Other scenarios when your healthcare provider may recommend the test: 

• Anemia: In certain cases, the test also helps a doctor find the cause of anemia. It is because bleeding in the occult gastrointestinal bleeding results in iron deficiency anemia or fecal occult blood. 
• Differentiate between IBS and IBD: The test also helps clear the difference between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBS). 

Additionally, a stool occult blood test alone cannot diagnose colorectal cancer or any digestive issue. Hence, additional tests may be needed to confirm the diagnosis. 

• A stool DNA test: Your healthcare provider may suggest a stool DNA test to check for stool in the blood. Besides, it checks for changes in the cells’ genetic material. 
• Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy: While colonoscopy allows the expert to see inside your colon, the sigmoidoscopy presents only the picture of the colon's lower part. 
• CT colonography presents 3-dimensional pictures of your entire colon and rectum. 

What does the stool occult blood test detect?

The stool occult blood test detects hidden blood in the stool. If blood is detected in the stool sample, it may be a sign of colorectal cancer or other problems, such as polyps, ulcers, or hemorrhoids. 

Your medical professional may recommend the test if he finds symptoms suggestive of a condition that could involve bleeding in your digestive tract. 

Nevertheless, the test may also be prescribed to screen for colorectal cancer even when you don’t have symptoms. 

Experts from the field strongly suggest that regular screening tests are important for everyone from 45 until at least 75. It is a perfect age limit to confirm if you are at risk for developing colorectal cancer. 

Therefore, talk to your healthcare provider about your risk for colorectal cancer and if it is the right time to get the screening done. 

How can you prepare for the stool occult blood test?

Consult your healthcare provider if you need to prepare for the stool occult blood test. Generally, the test doesn’t require any preparation, so you can continue your regular diet and medications before the test. 

You may also need to not fast before the test and submit your poop sample for analysis. 

Your doctor will consider your current health conditions and may suggest fasting before the test. You may also have to avoid certain foods, supplements, and medicines, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), red meat, and certain fruits and vegetables, because these may affect stool occult blood test results. 

What is the procedure for the stool occult blood test?

The stool occult blood test procedure is simple, quick, and straightforward. The phlebotomist will provide you with a stool sample collection kit to collect samples of your stool (poop) at home. Instructions are written on the test to help you know how to do the test. 

Two different types of fecal occult blood tests are: 

• The guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT): A chemical (guaiac) is used to find blood in stool from two or three separate bowel movements. 
• The fecal immunochemical test (iFOBT or FIT) uses antibodies to find blood in stool. According to experts, the FIT test is better than gFOBT. A FIT test requires one to three separate bowel movements to find colorectal cancers.

General instructions for collecting a stool sample: 

• Catching a bowel movement: A stool collection kit may include a special paper that you need to place over your toilet to help you catch your bowel movement. Remember, do not mix urine with your stool in case of a guaiac test. 
• Collecting a stool sample from your bowel movement: You may need an applicator brush or a wooden stick to remove the stool sample. 
• Preparing a stool sample: You will either apply the stool onto a specific test card or place the applicator containing the stool sample into the tube provided in your kit. 
• Label it: Label your stool sample as directed. 
• Repeat the test: If more than one sample is needed, repeat the process using the same instructions. 
• Returning the sample: The sample will be submitted to the lab. 

What do the stool occult blood test results indicate?

Your FOBT lab results will be positive, negative, or inconclusive. Understanding of test results in detail: 

• If your FOBT test results are negative, it indicates no detection of blood in the stool samples. 
• A stool occult blood test positive means blood was detected in your stool samples. 
• If your FOBT test results are inconclusive, it simply means a problem with the sample. 

Note: A positive stool occult blood test doesn’t confirm cancer. Many other medical conditions, such as polyps, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, or diverticulosis, can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. 

Hence, your doctor may suggest more tests to confirm the actual cause of your bleeding. 

What if the stool occult blood test reports are positive?

A positive stool occult blood test could signal bleeding in your digestive tract. Consequently, this could be a sign of colorectal cancer, but it is still not yet confirmed. Discuss your reports with your healthcare provider to make informed decisions about your health. 

In case of a positive fecal occult blood test, doctors usually suggest some more tests to find the location and cause of the bleeding. Moreover, he may recommend a colonoscopy, a common follow-up test, to confirm abnormalities and an increased risk of colon cancer. 

Who should take the stool occult blood test?

A stool occult blood test is a screening test suggested for people between 45 and 75. They are at an average risk of developing colorectal cancer even before the symptoms appear. 

The test is an important tool that can help detect cancer early and may reduce the chances of dying from the disease. Experts recommend that people falling in this age bracket should take the test once a year. Those who are older than 75 or have an elevated risk of developing colon cancer should talk to their healthcare provider and schedule the right screening. 

Nevertheless, your healthcare professional is the right point of contact to figure out how often you should get screened. 

Are there any risks associated with the test?

No, there is no risk associated with the stool occult blood test. It is 100% safe and secure. However, there are some limitations of the test, including: 

• False-negative result: The fecal occult blood test looks for hidden blood in the stool. If the stool test reports are negative, which indicates no blood is found, this could be a false-negative result. 

Conversely, your test result might also be false-negative if blood is in the stool but not detected. Consequently, colorectal cancer screening is suggested every year. 

• False-positive result: This means that blood is detected in the stool. However, it could be a false-positive result if the cause of bleeding is due to other cancer or polyps. 

Additionally, the cause of blood could be stomach ulcers or hemorrhoids. 

Need for additional Testing.

If your fecal occult blood test reports are positive, your healthcare professional may recommend a colonoscopy to examine the inside of your colon. 

Note: Whether your stool occult test reports are positive or negative, don’t be afraid to discuss them with your healthcare provider to get the best advice possible. 

What are the common symptoms related to the disease?

The most common symptoms associated with stool occult blood tests are: 

• Pain in your abdomen or cramping 
• Changes in your bowel movement
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Hidden blood in the stool 
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Weakness 
• Breathlessness
• Vomiting 

Therefore, meet your healthcare professional for an early and accurate diagnosis of the condition and effective treatment plans to avoid serious complications. 

Stool Occult Blood Test Price with Redcliffe Labs

If suggested, get yourself tested immediately, as even a little delay can cause serious harm. Call directly or download the Redcliffe Labs mobile app now to book a stool occult blood test online. The stool occult blood test price at Redcliffe Labs is INR 149 only. 

Once you book the test, you can expect 100% professional services at your doorstep. The phlebotomist will come to your place with a stool collection kit. Based on your discussion with your medical professional, perform a stool test without missing out on any instructions. Get the stool occult blood test reports typically within 12 hours. 

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