Faecal occult blood screening for colorectal neoplasia: A randomized trial of three days or six days of tests

✍ Scribed by Mr. W. M. Thomas; G. Pye; J. D. Hardcastle; C. M. Mangham

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1990
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 324 KB
• Volume: 77
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800770313

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Haemoccult®, a guaiac test for faecal occult blood, detects 56–78 per cent of asymptomatic carcinomas when performed over 3 days. In patients with known colorectal cancer the sensitivity of the test for neoplasia is increased by extending the test period to 6 days. We report the first randomized comparison of 3 day with 6 day testing in asymptomatic individuals. 35184 age and sex matched individuals were randomly allocated to receive Haemoccult over 3 or 6 days. The tests were completed by 10176 (57·8 per cent) of the 17616 offered 3 day Haemoccult and 9461 (53·9 per cent) of the 17568 offered 6 day Haemoccult, a significant decrease in compliance (P<0·001). Of the 3 day Haemoccult tests 131 (1·29 per cent) were positive, significantly fewer than the 160 (1·69 per cent) positive tests after 6 day Haemoccult (0·01 < P < 0·02). Investigation of subjects with a positive test revealed 20 carcinomas (1·14 per 1000 offered and 1·97 per 1000 completing the test) in the 3 day group and 24 carcinomas (1·37 per 1000 offered and 2·54 per 1000 completing the test) after 6 day Haemoccult tests (0·5