At present, the faecal occult blood test (FOBT) is the primary means by which bowel cancer screening is undertaken. FOBTs are accepted as the primary screening tool for bowel cancer by a large number of countries. This value domain has been constructed to allow the future inclusion of additional screening test types should the need arise. Other test types may be added to this value domain if/when they become available.
The FOBT is a self-administered test to detect blood in bowel motions, but does not detect bowel cancer itself. A pathologist classifies a FOBT as positive if blood is detected in the sample, as the presence of blood may indicate abnormal growths within the bowel. Participants who have a positive FOBT test are recommended to have a diagnostic assessment to look for polyps or cancerous growths. |