How To Do The Test
Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) Test
The screening test for bowel cancer is called a Faecal Occult Blood (FOB) test and analyses samples of bowel motions for tiny traces of blood that may be invisible to the naked eye.
Polyps and bowel cancers sometimes bleed, and the faecal occult blood (FOB) test works by detecting tiny amounts of blood which cannot normally be seen in bowel motions. ‘Occult’ means hidden. The FOB test does not diagnose bowel cancer, but the results will indicate whether further investigation (usually a colonoscopy) is needed.
A kit is used to collect small samples of bowel motion on a special card at home. The samples are then posted to the laboratory for analysis. The test does not diagnose bowel cancer but does give an indication as to whether further investigations are required.
The ‘How to Do The Bowel Cancer Screening Test‘ leaflet provides instructions on how to carry out the test in the privacy of your own home.