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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Does This Occult Blood Test Finding Indicate?

Good afternoon, I recently had a physical. My occult blood test came back as 1+-abnormal and the RBC result was 3-10 abnormal. Last year the Occult blood test result was abnormal and the RBC count was 0-3. Should I follow up with more tests. I have never had any symptoms. thank you
Thu, 13 Aug 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi!
Good afternoon!
I appreciate your concern for the POSITIVE occult blood (apparently in the stool).

Incomplete data like age, gender, smoking or alcohol intake.

It is suggestive of bleeding from the intestinal tract suspicious of cancer.
It is done for the screening and early detection of colon cancer if you're age 50 or older.
A fecal occult blood test is considered positive if blood is detected in your stool samples, your doctor will recommend a follow up colonoscopy or repeat the stool occult blood test or combination of both.

Sometimes it can be a FALSE POSITIVE test (when you have no cancer) which is due to bleeding from other sources, such as a stomach ulcer, esophageal varices, hemorrhoid, or even blood swallowed from your mouth or your nose.

Hope to have answered your query.

wishing you a very good health.

A feed back is appreciated.
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What Does This Occult Blood Test Finding Indicate?

Hi! Good afternoon! I appreciate your concern for the POSITIVE occult blood (apparently in the stool). Incomplete data like age, gender, smoking or alcohol intake. It is suggestive of bleeding from the intestinal tract suspicious of cancer. It is done for the screening and early detection of colon cancer if you re age 50 or older. A fecal occult blood test is considered positive if blood is detected in your stool samples, your doctor will recommend a follow up colonoscopy or repeat the stool occult blood test or combination of both. Sometimes it can be a FALSE POSITIVE test (when you have no cancer) which is due to bleeding from other sources, such as a stomach ulcer, esophageal varices, hemorrhoid, or even blood swallowed from your mouth or your nose. Hope to have answered your query. wishing you a very good health. A feed back is appreciated.