The main use for the fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is as a screen for early colon cancer. Blood in the stool may be the only symptom of early cancer; thus, if detected early, treatment can begin immediately, improving the chance of a cure. The FOBT is not diagnostic for cancer but, if positive, requires other follow-up procedures to find the source of the bleeding that may indicate other gastrointestinal problems. The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) check for hidden blood in the stool. Normally, only very small amounts of blood may be lost from the stomach or intestines during digestion. This blood cannot be seen in the feces and does not produce a positive result on a fecal occult blood test. However, polyps, finger-like growths that protrude into the intestinal cavity (lumen) or in the rectum, can be fragile and bleed intermittently, such as when food waste brushes against them. The blood released is not usually visible in the stool but can be detected with a fecal occult blood test. A secondary use of FOBT is to determine the cause of anemia, such as blood loss from a bleeding ulcer. Sample: Feces Reference: – – – Frequency: Daily