Description
What is Faecal occult blood?
Faecal occult blood is the presence in the faeces (stool) of blood that is not clearly visible to the naked eye. Occult blood may be the consequence of gastro-intestinal disorders such as ulcers, polyps, colitis, diverticulitis, rhagades, haemorrhoids or cancer. The signs of these lesions are often silent in the first phases, so searching for occult blood in the stool is an important screening test, which allows to identify the presence of pathologies in the gastro-intestinal system at an early stage.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Large bowel is the lower part of the digestive system, consisting the colon and rectum. Sometimes, abnormal cells will emerge on the bowel wall, growing into polyps, ulcers or other forms of mass. Most of the colorectal polyps are benign, but a small portion of them may develop into malignant tumours, becoming colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Hong Kong.
Who have higher chance of having Colorectal Cancer?
Risk factors for colorectal cancer include low fibre intake, high consumption of red meat and processed meat, lack of physical activity, obesity, alcohol consumption and smoking. Individuals with the following risk factors are more prone to developing colorectal cancer:
- Having hereditary bowel diseases, e.g. familial adenomatous polyposis (“FAP”) or Lynch Syndrome
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Persistent inflammation of the bowel, e.g. ulcerative colitis
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History of colonic polyps
- Family history of colorectal cancer, particularly in first-degree relatives (i.e. parents, siblings or children)
Common symptomsEarly colorectal cancer may have no symptoms. Common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
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Bloody or stained stool, black stool, stools with mucus, or rectal bleeding
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Change in bowel habits (persistent constipation or diarrhea), change in the shape of the stool (thin strip), feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
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Unexplained weight loss
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Lower abdominal pain (distended abdomen or colicky abdominal pain)
- Symptoms of anemia: cold hands and feet, fatigue, palpitation, shortness of breath, pallor, dizziness
Faecal occult blood test
Bleeding in the bowel may not be visible. Fecal Occult Blood Test checks for hidden blood in the stool. If the test result is positive, further examination is needed such as colonoscopy or barium enema examination.
Positive result
This result means there is blood in the faeces and you should consult a physician.
Negative result
This result means that there is no blood in the faeces or that the concentration is below the test’s detection limit.
When can the test be used?
The BOWEL FOB TEST can be carried out at any time of the day, when you have a bowel movement, and there is no need to follow a specific diet. It should not be used while menstruating, as the result obtained may not be reliable.
*Read these instructions for use carefully before performing the test. The Test is reliable only if all the instructions are followed correctly.
Video tutorial: https://youtu.be/nRD5nOp12lo
