The examination for occult blood in the stool is used to detect blood that s not visible to the naked eye.
Blood in your stool sample.
Sometimes the amount of blood is so small that it can only be detected by a fecal occult test which checks for hidden.
As of recently an immunological test ifobt may be used during stool examinations.
Occult blood in the stool may indicate colon cancer or polyps in the colon or rectum though not all cancers or polyps bleed.
It serves among other things for early detection of colon cancer.
Typically occult blood is passed in such small amounts that it can be detected only through the chemicals used in a fecal occult blood test.
So to answer the question you are just looking for blood.
The fecal occult blood test fobt is a lab test used to check stool samples for hidden occult blood.
This is even more sensitive than the previously used hemoccult test.
And if you see it you need to report it to your family physician for investigation.
If blood is coming from the rectum or the lower colon bright red blood will coat or mix with the stool.
Large amounts of blood.
Blood in stool means there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract.
Seek emergency care if you notice.
All blood passed in the stool around the stool or after the stool is abnormal and represents a problem of varying severity.
Blood may appear in the stool because of one or more of the following conditions.
The digestive or gastrointestinal gi tract includes the esophagus stomach small intestine large intestine or colon rectum and anus.
The cause of bleeding may not be serious but locating the source of bleeding is important.