BACKGROUND Testing stool for occult blood at the time of digital rectal examination (DRE) has been discouraged because it is thought to increase the number of false-positive test results. OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic yield of colonoscopy and the cost per cancer detected in asymptomatic patients with a positive fecal occult blood test result obtained by DRE with that obtained from spont...

The authors review the place of faecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy and total colonoscopy in the screening of colorectal cancer. Strategy in high risk patients is also discussed.

Dear editor, the fecal occult blood test is the presently widely used screening laboratory test for colorectal cancer. At present, the test is usually based on an immunological diagnostic principle (1, 2). A false positive fecal occult blood is common and widely mentioned in literature. Nevertheless, the false negative is little mentioned in the paper. Here, the authors discuss the issue of the...

OBJECTIVES Guidelines for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance in people at average risk and at increased risk have recently been published by the American Gastroenterological Association. The guidelines for the population at average risk were evaluated using cost-effectiveness analyses. METHODS Since colorectal cancers primarily arise from precancerous adenomas, a state transition mo...

INTENDED USE HemaPrompt FG is a guaiac-based in-vitro slide method for the qualitative detection of occult blood in feces and gastric aspirate or vomitus by medical professionals only. It is not designed to be sent home with the patient for self-application. For fecal testing, it is a useful aid in the diagnosis of a number of gastro-intestinal disorders, and is recommended for use in 1) routin...

The prevalence and significance of colorectal symptoms within a group of 1533 individuals was assessed using a self-completion questionnaire and results compared with faecal occult blood screening. One hundred and twenty eight individuals listed one or more symptoms, while only 12 had a positive blood occult test. Of the subjects studied, 6.6% had noticed bleeding from the rectum in the last si...