Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Stool occult blood test


Normal Values

A "negative" test result is normal. It means no blood was found in the stool.


What abnormal results mean

Positive test results may indicate the following:

  • Angiodysplasia of the colon
  • Bleeding esophageal varices
  • Colon polyp or colon cancer
  • Complications of recent GI surgery
  • Esophagitis
  • Fissures (cracks around the anus)
  • Gastritis
  • GI (gastrointestinal) trauma
  • GI tumor
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Peptic ulcer

Note that false positives are common.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include the following:

  • Colon cancer screening
  • Evaluation of anemia

Review Date: 03/08/2008
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)