Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT): What Affects The Test
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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 aspirin, nonsteroidal 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.
| Last updated: | August 11, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Peter J. Kahrilas, MD - Gastroenterology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Tracy Landauer |
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