Stool Occult Blood Test in Kolkata | Home Collection & NABL-Certified Results

Apollo Diagnostics | NABL-Certified Lab | No Fasting Required | Same-Day Digital Reports on WhatsApp

What is a Stool Occult Blood Test?

The Stool Occult Blood test (also called the Faecal Occult Blood Test or FOBT) is a specialized diagnostic test used to detect hidden (occult) blood in the stool that is not visible to the naked eye. Even a small amount of bleeding anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract — from the oesophagus to the rectum — can release tiny quantities of blood into the stool that cannot be seen but can be detected chemically. This test is a critical colorectal cancer screening tool and is used to investigate unexplained iron deficiency anaemia, gastrointestinal ulcers and polyps.

⚠ Important diet restrictions before the test (for guaiac-based FOBT): Avoid red meat (beef, lamb, pork), raw vegetables (especially radish, turnip, horseradish), Vitamin C supplements and aspirin or NSAIDs for 3 days before collection as these can cause false positive or false negative results. Collect a fresh stool sample in the sterile container provided and submit within 2 hours. Do not collect during menstruation. No fasting is required.

Why is the Stool Occult Blood Test Performed?

The FOB test identifies conditions causing slow or intermittent GI bleeding that would otherwise be missed:

• Colorectal Cancer Screening — the most important use; detects early-stage colorectal cancer when treatment is most effective, before symptoms appear
• Polyp Detection — colorectal polyps bleed intermittently; occult blood is often the first detectable sign before polyps become cancerous
• GI Ulcer Screening — gastric and duodenal ulcers bleed slowly into the upper GI tract
• Anaemia Investigation — occult blood is the most common missed cause of unexplained iron deficiency anaemia
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease — slow bleeding from Crohn's disease or Ulcerative Colitis
• NSAID-induced gastropathy — long-term aspirin and NSAID use causes silent gastric bleeding

Types of Faecal Occult Blood Tests

Two methods are available — your doctor will specify which is needed:

• Guaiac FOBT (gFOBT) — detects the peroxidase activity of haemoglobin using a chemical reaction. Requires dietary restriction (no red meat, raw vegetables, Vitamin C, NSAIDs for 3 days). Less expensive and widely used for screening.
• Immunochemical FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) — uses antibodies specific to human haemoglobin. More specific for lower GI bleeding. No dietary restrictions needed. More sensitive for colorectal cancer detection. Now preferred over gFOBT by most international guidelines.
• Which is available at Apollo Diagnostics? — Please confirm with our team at time of booking which method is available and which your doctor has requested.

Normal and Abnormal Results

Result	Interpretation	Next Step
Negative	No detectable blood in stool sample	Routine repeat screening as advised by doctor (annually for colorectal cancer screening)
Positive	Blood detected in stool — source of bleeding must be identified	Colonoscopy, upper GI endoscopy or further investigation as directed by doctor

A positive FOBT does not confirm cancer — it only indicates that blood is present. Further investigation with colonoscopy is required to identify the source. A negative result does not completely rule out cancer as bleeding is intermittent and may not be present in every stool sample.

Who Should Get a Stool Occult Blood Test?

This test is recommended for:

• Adults above 45 years for routine colorectal cancer screening (annually)
• Anyone with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia
• Patients on long-term aspirin, NSAIDs or anticoagulants
• Anyone with change in bowel habits (constipation alternating with diarrhoea) persisting more than 4 weeks
• Patients with unexplained weight loss and abdominal discomfort
• Patients with known gastric or duodenal ulcers requiring monitoring
• Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
• Anyone with rectal bleeding that has been evaluated but not fully explained

What Conditions Does FOBT Help Diagnose?

• Colorectal cancer (early stage)
• Colorectal polyps (pre-cancerous)
• Gastric and duodenal ulcers
• Oesophageal varices (bleeding from dilated oesophageal veins in liver disease)
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis)
• Diverticular disease
• Angiodysplasia (abnormal blood vessels in the bowel)
• NSAID-induced gastropathy
• Unexplained iron deficiency anaemia

Stool Occult Blood Test Price in Kolkata

Stool Occult Blood (FOBT) Test Price: ₹190
No fasting required  |  Dietary restrictions apply (see above)  |  Submit within 2 hours  |  Free home collection above ₹2,000

Tests Commonly Ordered Alongside FOBT

• Stool Routine & Microscopy — ordered alongside FOBT when GI infection is also suspected as a cause of bleeding
• CBC (Complete Blood Count) — checks for iron deficiency anaemia caused by chronic occult GI bleeding
• Serum Iron & Ferritin — confirms iron deficiency anaemia when occult blood is positive
• Liver Function Test (LFT) — oesophageal varices causing upper GI bleeding occur in liver disease
• Colonoscopy — the definitive follow-up investigation after a positive FOBT result
• Upper GI Endoscopy — if upper GI source of bleeding is suspected (gastric ulcer, oesophageal varices)

Home Collection for Stool Occult Blood Test in Kolkata

Apollo Diagnostics provides home sample collection for Stool Occult Blood tests across Nagerbazar, Dum Dum, South Dum Dum and surrounding North and Central Kolkata areas. Our phlebotomist provides a sterile stool collection container at your doorstep with clear instructions on dietary restrictions and collection technique. Submit the sample within 2 hours for accurate results.

• Home collection available: 7:00 AM – 2:30 PM Daily
• No fasting required
• Follow dietary restrictions 3 days before collection (for gFOBT)
• Sterile collection container provided at your doorstep
• Submit sample within 2 hours of collection
• Free home collection on orders above ₹2,000
• Same-day digital reports delivered to WhatsApp

📞 Book Stool Occult Blood Test via WhatsApp — +91 8660434628

Quick Links

→ Apollo Diagnostics Nagerbazar → Full List of Individual Tests → Book Home Collection → Full Body Checkup Packages

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the Stool Occult Blood test used for?

The Stool Occult Blood test (FOBT) detects hidden blood in stool not visible to the naked eye. It is used primarily for colorectal cancer screening, polyp detection, investigation of unexplained iron deficiency anaemia, screening for gastric and duodenal ulcers and monitoring patients on long-term NSAIDs or aspirin for silent GI bleeding.

Q2. Does the Stool Occult Blood test require fasting?

No fasting is required. However dietary restrictions apply for the guaiac-based test — avoid red meat, raw vegetables (radish, turnip, horseradish), Vitamin C supplements and NSAIDs for 3 days before collection to prevent false positive or false negative results. The immunochemical FIT test does not require dietary restrictions.

Q3. What is the Stool Occult Blood test price at Apollo Diagnostics Kolkata?

The Stool Occult Blood (FOBT) test price at Apollo Diagnostics is ₹190. Same-day results via WhatsApp. Home collection with sterile container is available free on orders above ₹2,000.

Q4. What does a positive Stool Occult Blood result mean?

A positive FOBT result means that blood was detected in the stool sample. This does not confirm cancer — blood can be present for many reasons including haemorrhoids, polyps, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease or NSAID use. However a positive result always requires further investigation — typically colonoscopy — to identify the source of bleeding and rule out or confirm serious conditions.

Q5. Can a negative Stool Occult Blood test rule out colorectal cancer?

No. A single negative FOBT does not completely rule out colorectal cancer because colorectal tumours bleed intermittently and may not shed blood into every stool sample. This is why colorectal cancer screening guidelines recommend annual FOBT testing for adults above 45. A negative result should be repeated the following year. Anyone with persistent bowel symptoms despite a negative FOBT should still be investigated further with colonoscopy.

Q6. At what age should I start getting Stool Occult Blood tests?

International guidelines recommend starting colorectal cancer screening at age 45 for average-risk adults. Annual FOBT is one of the recommended screening methods. People with a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps should start screening at age 40 or 10 years before the youngest affected family member's age of diagnosis, whichever comes first. Consult your doctor for your individual recommended screening schedule.

Q7. What is the difference between FOBT and Stool Routine Microscopy?

The Stool Routine & Microscopy test examines stool under a microscope for parasites, pus cells, visible RBCs, fat globules and other cellular abnormalities. It is primarily used for infection and digestive disorder investigation. The FOBT specifically uses a chemical or immunological reaction to detect tiny hidden amounts of blood that are not visible even under a microscope. Both can be ordered together when GI bleeding and infection need to be evaluated simultaneously.

Q8. Is home collection available for Stool Occult Blood test in Kolkata?

Yes. Apollo Diagnostics provides home sample collection for Stool Occult Blood tests across Nagerbazar, Dum Dum, South Dum Dum, Amarpalli, Motijheel, Satgachi, Baguiati, Lake Town, Bangur, Kaikhali, Sealdah, Entally, Phoolbagan, Tangra and surrounding areas. Our phlebotomist provides a sterile container and collection instructions at your doorstep. Book by calling or WhatsApping +91 8660434628.

Q9. How long does it take to get Stool Occult Blood test results?

Stool Occult Blood test results are available the same day. Digital reports are delivered to your WhatsApp or email.

Q10. Which centre processes my Stool Occult Blood sample in Kolkata?

All samples collected across North and Central Kolkata are processed at Apollo Diagnostics Nagerbazar — Nandarani Apartment, 8A Narasingha Avenue, Nagerbazar, Dum Dum, Kolkata 700074. Our lab is NABL-certified and ISO-certified.