Guaiac fecal occult blood test

A guaiac fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) uses antibodies to find tiny amounts of hemoglobin in your stool. The test can find bleeding from both the upper and lower digestive tract. This test is recommended every year.

How you take the test:

• Your healthcare professional may ask you to avoid certain foods, vitamins and medicines because they may affect the test results. Foods to avoid include red meat and fruits and vegetables that have vitamin C. Also avoid vitamins that contain vitamin C and iron. Medicines to avoid include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB and others) and blood thinners.
• The kit typically includes everything you need to complete the test, including instructions. The test kit may include a stick or brush that you use to collect the sample.
• You collect parts of three bowel movements in a row.
• You smear samples from each bowel movement onto a card provided in the test kit. You typically send the card to a lab for testing.
• After you collect the stool sample, place the sample in a container that comes with the test kit. Return the container to a lab for testing, often by mail. Send it within 24 hours.