Intended for healthcare professionals

Research Article

Accuracy and value of the Hemoccult test in symptomatic patients.

Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983; 286 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.286.6366.673 (Published 26 February 1983) Cite this as: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1983;286:673
  1. R J Leicester,
  2. A Lightfoot,
  3. J Millar,
  4. D G Colin-Jones,
  5. R H Hunt

    Abstract

    Hemoccult faecal occult blood testing is widely advocated as a screening test for colorectal cancer but few studies have shown its correlation with conventional methods of investigation for colorectal disease. In a prospective study of 802 symptomatic patients with suspected colorectal disease there was good patient compliance (92.5%) and a high specificity for colorectal cancer (85.4%). The false positive rate was 8.6% (12 of 140 patients with positive results), and while the test result was positive in 22 of 26 colonic cancers the false negative rate for rectal cancer (45.4%) should not detract from its value as a screening test if proper digital anorectal and proctosigmoidoscopic examination are widely practised. A positive Hemoccult test result is a useful indicator for the need to proceed to full colorectal investigation, including colonoscopy.