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Blood in the stool

The facts

In Europe, colon cancer is a common cause of death in the elderly. An estimated one in 15 men and one in 25 women contract colon cancer during the course of their lifetime. Half of these patients die as a result of their intestinal cancer.
Because colon cancer develops from benign growths (polyps) in the intestine that continue to grow for years before transforming into malignant tumours, colon cancer is treatable if it is diagnosed early. Because the benign polyps bleed from time to time, their presence is revealed by minuscule blood particles in the stool which are invisible to the naked eye.

What does our test include?

Our sensitive test method allows us to identify minuscule traces of blood in the stool.  

Who should take this test?

Women and men age 50 and up should take the test annually.

How to use this test? (to instructions)

We only require a small stool specimen for the identification of blood in the stool. For the test used by us, you are NOT required to observe a diet the day before you collect the specimen.
Please follow the instructions on the illustrations (pictograms), explaining the proper collection of specimens.

How and when will you receive the results?

The results will be available on our homepage (disclaimer) no later than 3 days after the receipt of the specimen in our laboratory.  

What happens, if the results reveal traces of blood in the stool?

If the result is positive, you need to consult a specialist (gastroenterologist). S/he will perform a proctoscopy to examine the walls of the colon. Polyps (adenomas) can be removed easily during the same procedure, preventing the cancer from developing.

What happens, if the results do not reveal any traces of blood in the stool?

A negative result does not exclude the presence of polyps because they only bleed from time to time. If you feel healthy, it is sufficient when you take another test after one year. If you feel that something is different in your abdominal region or if you have noticed traces of blood in your stool, you should consult a specialist (gastroenterologist).  

Additional information:

How are the tests conducted at our laboratory?

At the laboratory, we are using a method that allows the specific identification of haemoglobin, the blood’s red pigment.

Do you have any questions?

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