Fecal occult blood

Fecal Occult Blood (FOB) testing detects minute quantities of blood in stool samples not visible to the naked eye. This test is a preliminary screening tool for various conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the colon. The presence of blood can indicate bleeding anywhere along this pathway. The test works by identifying the pseudoperoxidase activity of hemoglobin in red blood cells. A laboratory analysis can provide precise identification of human hemoglobin, differentiating it from dietary sources of blood. This method enhances specificity and reduces the incidence of false positives.