occult blood test

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occult

[ŏ-kult´]

obscure or hidden from view.

occult blood test examination by microscope or chemical test of a specimen (such as feces, urine, or gastric juice) for presence of blood that is not otherwise detectable. Feces are tested when intestinal bleeding is suspected but there is no visible evidence of blood.

occult blood test

Etymology: L, occultare, to hide; AS, blod + L, testum, crucible

a test for the presence of microscopic amounts of blood in the feces secondary to bleeding in the digestive tract. The minimal amounts of occult blood normally passed into the GI tract are not usually significant enough to cause a positive result for occult blood testing. Benign and malignant GI tumors, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, arteriovenous malformations, and diverticulosis can cause the appearance of occult blood in the stool, as can swallowed blood from oral or nasal pharyngeal bleeding.

occult blood test

A screening test for disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including anemias that may be caused by gastrointestinal blood loss.

See: fecal occult blood test

occult

obscure or hidden from view.

occult blood test

examination, microscopically or by a chemical test, of a specimen of feces, urine, gastric juice, etc., to determine the presence of blood not otherwise detectable. Feces are tested when intestinal bleeding is suspected but there is no visible evidence of blood in the stools.

occult heartworm infection

infection by Dirofilaria immitis in which circulating microfilariae cannot be detected in the peripheral blood by the usual test methods.

occult spavin

see occult spavin.

occult virus

the virus or infectious agent cannot be isolated but there is strong circumstantial evidence that it is present, e.g. scrapie prion.

References in periodicals archive ?

Of those who did not have a fecal occult blood test in the previous year, 22.

Colorectal screening goals unmet

The specific aims of this study were to determine (1) the prevalence of lesions in asymptomatic patients, 45 years of age and over, with negative fecal occult blood tests, by using a 60-cm flexible sigmoidoscope, and to study the histopathology of colorectal lesions in terms of type, size, and location; (2) what proportion of the lesions found were beyond the reach of a 24-cm rigid or a 30-cm flexible sigmoidoscope; (3) what proportion of these patients with significant lesions had additional lesions beyond 60 cm as detected by colonoscopy; and (4) what proportion of these patients with significant lesions would have been referred for colonoscopy if either the 24-cm or the 30-cm sigmoidoscope had been used rather than the 60-cm sigmoidoscope.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy in asymptomatic patients with negative fecal occult blood tests

Test inconvenience for patients, patient refusal or poor compliance, and physician reimbursement were also the most common barriers to fecal occult blood tests and flexible sigmoidoscopy reported by the physicians.

Physicians underestimate screening barriers

The fecal occult blood test is often used, but its high false-negative rate is of concern, said Dr.

Colon cancer test choice depends on patient: practice pearls

Hemoccult II is the most widely-used fecal occult blood test on the market.

New England Journal of Medicine Reports That Stool-Based DNA Test is Four-Times More Sensitive Than Fecal Occult Blood Test for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Even when physicians are doing a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), many are not doing it right, Dr.

Colon ca screening practices are often deficient

Colorectal Cancer Screening in Americans Aged 50 Years Test Percentage Tested Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) within 12 months 23.

Rate of colorectal cancer screening remains low: 87,729 adults surveyed. (Clinical Rounds)

NEW ORLEANS--Fecal occult blood test or colonoscopy?

Practice pearls: several variables go into choice of colon ca test

The immunoassay fecal occult blood test is superior to guaiac for several reasons, testified Dr.

Medicare may cover more colorectal cancer tests. (Rule 'Opens the Door')

EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ:EXAS) announced today that its multi-center study of PreGen-Plus(TM) versus the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) achieved its primary endpoint of superiority with high statistical significance (p less than 0.

PreGen-Plus Four Times More Sensitive Than FOBT in EXACT Sciences' Multi-Center Study; Results Presented at Satellite Symposium at American College of Gastroenterology Meeting

Physicians now have a new option when it comes to ordering a fecal occult blood test for Medicare patients.

Colorectal screening option

an international cancer screening company, announced today that its InSure(TM) Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) significantly improved patient participation in colorectal cancer screening compared to Hemoccult(R), a traditional guaiac fecal occult blood test (FOBT).

Study Proves InSure Test Significantly Increases Patient Participation in Screening for Colorectal Cancer