When doctors test for fecal occult blood they are testing for the presence of microscopic or invisible blood in the stool, or feces. Fecal occult blood can be a sign of a problem in your digestive system, such as a growth, or polyp, or cancer in the colon or rectum. If microscopic blood is detected, it is important for your doctor to determine the source of bleeding to properly diagnose and treat the problem.
What Causes Blood to Appear in Stool?
Blood may appear in the stool because of one or more of the following conditions:
- Benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) growths or polyps of the colon
- Hemorrhoids (swollen blood vessels near the anus and lower rectum that can rupture causing bleeding)
- Anal fissures (splits or cracks in the lining of the anal opening)
- Intestinal infections that cause inflammation
- Ulcers
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn's disease
- Diverticular disease, caused by outpouchings of the colon wall
- Abnormalities of the blood vessels in the large intestine
- Meckel’s diverticulum, usually seen in children and young adults
Gastrointestinal bleeding may be microscopic (occult blood), or may be easily seen as red blood, or black tar-like bowel movements, called melena.
Food Restriction Before The Test
Because certain foods can alter the test results, a special diet is often recommended for 48 to 72 hours before the test.
The following foods should not be eaten 48 to 72 hours before taking the test:
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Cucumbers
- Grapefruit
- Horseradish
- Mushrooms
- Radishes
- Red meat (especially meat that is cooked rare)
- Turnips
- Vitamin C-enriched foods or beverages
Why Do We Need To Do The Test
To allow for the early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer, the fecal occult blood test is recommended yearly for everyone starting at age 50. This annual test may be recommended along with a flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema every five years to check for colorectal polyps or cancer. An alternative is a colonoscopy every 5-10 years.
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