Diagnostic Validity of Fecal Occult Blood Tests for Detecting Gastroenterological Cancers

Immunochemical fecal occult blood tests for colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND The superiority of several immunochemical fecal occult blood tests (I-FOBT) over guaiac-based tests in colorectal cancer screening is now established. The aim of this study was to compare the analytical performance of 3 quantitative I-FOBTs. METHODS Stool samples from 10 healthy volunteers, initially I-FOBT negative, supplemented with human blood, were used to compare reproducibili...

Assessing the Validity of Diagnostic Tests

Diagnostic testing following fecal occult blood screening in the elderly.

BACKGROUND Screening with a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) has been shown to reduce colorectal cancer mortality in controlled trials. Recently, Medicare approved payment for FOBT screening. We evaluated the pattern of diagnostic testing following the initial FOBT in elderly Medicare beneficiaries. Such follow-up testing would in the long run influence both the cost and the benefit of widespread...

NCD for Fecal Occult Blood Test

False Negative Fecal Occult Blood Test: Prozone Effect

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...