FOB (FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD) TEST OR STOOL ANALYSIS

The FOB (Faecal Occult Blood) Test helps to diagnose bleeding disorders of the intestine (gut).

What is FOB (Faecial Occult Blood) test? This is a type of test that detects small amount of blood in the faeces of an individual which may not be known to you without proper diagnosis. Feaces are also referred to as stool analysis). In the other hand, the test can also be called the stool analysis.

What is feaces or stool? This is waste that you excrete from your anus. Occult means invisible).

What is the main purpose/reason of conducting this test?

FOB (Faecial Occult blood) Test is conducted because there are many disorders or illness which may cause bleeding into the intestine (gut) such as bowel polyps, duodenal or gastric ulcers bowel (colorectal) cancer. e.t.c. In this process, your faeces or stool becomes bloody or black

 in colour due to the high rate of bleeding. Although sometimes, these disorders only bleed with a drop of blood, in this case your faeces will look normal. Without your knowledge that it contain small amount of blood.

Nevertheless, the FOB or Stool Analysis test can be conducted to detect either small or large amount of blood in your faeces. The test may be done if you have symptoms like constant pain in you abdomen. It may also be conducted to monitor bowel cancer before any symptoms increase.

Attention: It will be good to know that the FOB (Faecal Occult Blood) test will only detect that you are bleeding from somewhere but cannot give notice of the part bleeding.

How can one conduct faecal occult blood (FOB) test?

To conduct the test the person whose Faeces or stool is to be examined will be given a sterilized universal container in which the Faeces or stool will be put after which it must have been produced and will also be advised by laboratory scientist or Doctor to avoid the intake of certain types of food for 3 days before producing the faeces or stool for the diagnosis (although is optional).

A sample of the Faeces (Stool) will be collected and placed into an FOB (Faecal Occult Blood) buffer which already have a chemical in a liquid form then cover to check or stir without covering make sure that the Faeces(Stool) is properly mixed.

Open an FOB (Faecal Occult Blood) strip and deep it into the FOB Buffer and allow for about 30 minutes then take you result.

NOTICE: if two red lines appears clearly on the FOB (Faecal Occult Blood) strip it is said to be positive which means that there is bleeding in your intestine (gut) but if only one red line appear clearly on the same strip it is said to be Negative which means that there is no trace of bleeding in your intestine (gut).