The Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is one of the diagnostic modalities indicated for screening patients for Colorectal Cancer (CRC). Despite being approved only for screening for CRC, numerous studies in the past have illustrated misuse of the FOBT. We examined utilization of the FOBT for patients admitted to a community teaching hospital. The study was conducted at Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago USA. A retrospective review of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) of patients admitted from January 2016 to December 2017 was performed. We reviewed the EMRs of 729 patients who received the stool testing for occult blood (FOBT). All tests (100%) were carried out for purposes other than CRC screening. Anemia (38%) was the most common reason documented for carrying out the FOBT. Further, 88% of the tests were ordered on patients who either did not fulfill CRC screening criteria or had other contraindications for testing. Usage of contraindicated medication was the most important factor (58% of patients) that made the candidates ineligible for testing. A total 73 Colonoscopies were ordered for patients who received the test inappropriately with a resulting low yield (0.47%) of CRC diagnosis. The stool occult blood test continues to be utilized for reasons other than CRC screening. Majority of patients who underwent the test were not suitable candidates due to the presence of contraindications for testing. Unsuitable FOBT testing led to further unnecessary investigations.

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粪便潜血测试的使用和滥用：社区医院的经验

粪便潜血测试（FOBT）是用于筛查大肠癌（CRC）患者的诊断方法之一。尽管仅被批准用于CRC筛查，但过去的大量研究表明滥用FOBT。我们检查了在社区教学医院住院的患者使用FOBT的情况。该研究在美国芝加哥圣约瑟夫医院进行。对2016年1月至2017年12月收治的患者的电子病历（EMR）进行回顾性审查。我们回顾了729名接受潜血便粪便检测（FOBT）的患者的EMR。所有测试（100％）均出于CRC筛查以外的目的而进行。贫血（38％）是进行FOBT的最常见原因。进一步，88％的测试是针对不符合CRC筛查标准或有其他禁忌症的患者进行的。禁忌药物的使用是最重要的因素（占患者的58％），这使候选人没有资格进行测试。总共订购了73例结肠镜检查，用于不适当接受检查的患者，导致CRC诊断的低收率（0.47％）。除了CRC筛查以外，大便潜血试验仍在继续使用。由于接受检查的禁忌症，大多数接受检查的患者都不适合作为候选人。不合适的FOBT测试导致进一步的不必要调查。禁忌药物的使用是最重要的因素（占患者的58％），这使候选人没有资格进行测试。总共订购了73例结肠镜检查，用于不适当接受检查的患者，导致CRC诊断的低收率（0.47％）。除了CRC筛查以外，大便潜血试验仍在继续使用。由于接受检查的禁忌症，大多数接受检查的患者都不适合作为候选人。不合适的FOBT测试导致进一步的不必要调查。禁忌药物的使用是最重要的因素（占患者的58％），这使候选人没有资格进行测试。总共订购了73例结肠镜检查，用于不适当接受检查的患者，导致CRC诊断的低收率（0.47％）。除了CRC筛查以外，大便潜血试验仍在继续使用。由于接受检查的禁忌症，大多数接受检查的患者都不适合作为候选人。不合适的FOBT测试导致进一步的不必要调查。由于接受检查的禁忌症，大多数接受检查的患者都不适合作为候选人。不合适的FOBT测试导致进一步的不必要调查。由于接受检查的禁忌症，大多数接受检查的患者都不适合作为候选人。不合适的FOBT测试导致进一步的不必要调查。