Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT)

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Taking some medicines, such as ASA, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or anticoagulants.
• Using laxatives, vitamin C, or iron supplements.
• Having blood in the urine, menstrual bleeding, hemorrhoids, an anal fissure, bleeding gums, or nosebleeds.
• Eating certain vegetables, such as radishes, turnips or beets, or red meat cooked rare 2 days before the test.
• Using a toilet bowl cleaner at the time of the test.

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Author:	Douglas Dana Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: October 23, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
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