Quick answer
The Stool Occult Blood Test costs ₹380 at Live Line Health Care. Detects small amounts of blood in stool that cannot be seen by eye. No fasting is needed. It uses a stool sample and the report is usually ready the same day. Book home sample collection or visit any of our 45 centres.
Also known as: Faecal Occult Blood Test, FOBT, Stool for Occult Blood, Occult Blood Stool, Hidden Blood in Stool Test, Stool OBT, Fecal Occult Blood
What is the Stool Occult Blood Test?
The Stool Occult Blood test looks for blood in stool that is hidden, or occult, meaning it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Small, slow bleeding from the stomach or bowel often causes no visible change in stool, yet over months it can drain iron and cause anaemia. The test detects traces of blood in a small stool sample and reports them simply as positive or negative. Depending on the method, the lab may give diet instructions before collection, so follow the advice that comes with your container.
A positive result tells your doctor that bleeding is happening somewhere in the gut. It does not show where, or why. Common causes include piles, fissures, stomach ulcers, inflammation and polyps. Less often, the cause is bowel cancer, which is why the test is used to check unexplained iron deficiency and, in some settings, to screen older adults. A positive result usually leads to an endoscopy or colonoscopy. A negative result is reassuring but cannot fully rule out cancer, because some growths bleed only now and then. This test differs from the Stool Routine test, which looks for parasites and visible blood.
What it measures: Traces of blood in stool, hidden from the eye, reported as positive or negative.
Parameters included (1)
- Occult Blood: Positive or Negative
Why is this test done?
- Iron deficiency anaemia without an obvious reason
- A change in bowel habit lasting several weeks, especially after age 45 to 50
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
- Stomach pain in someone taking painkillers regularly, when an ulcer is suspected
- Screening for bowel disease on a doctor’s advice
When should you get tested?
- Tiredness, breathlessness or paleness from anaemia
- Constipation or loose stools that last for weeks
- Ongoing pain or discomfort in the abdomen
- Losing weight without trying
- Indigestion or a burning pain in the upper stomach
How to prepare for the Stool Occult Blood Test
- 1Follow any diet advice given with your container. Some methods ask you to avoid red meat and certain foods for a few days before the sample.
- 2Do not collect the sample during your period, or while piles or a fissure are actively bleeding, and avoid straining hard.
- 3Tell the staff about aspirin, painkillers, blood thinners or iron tablets. Do not stop any prescribed medicine without asking your doctor.
- 4Use a clean, dry container and keep the sample free of urine and toilet water.
Stool Occult Blood Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Expected result | Negative: no occult blood detected |
| Positive | Blood detected in the stool sample |
This is a positive or negative test with no numeric range. A single negative result does not rule out disease, and your doctor may ask for samples from more than one day. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A positive result needs a doctor’s review. The cause is often harmless, such as piles, but bowel or stomach problems must be checked, usually with an endoscopy or colonoscopy.
- A negative result is reassuring but not final. Bleeding can stop and start, and some cancers bleed little.
- Visible blood, black stools or a known bleeding source already explain blood in stool, so this test adds little in those cases.
- Fainting, heavy bleeding, vomiting blood or black, tarry stools are an emergency and need hospital care at once.
Stool Occult Blood Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Stool Occult Blood Test?
The Stool Occult Blood Test costs ₹380 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
What does occult blood in stool positive mean?
It means a small amount of blood, not visible to the eye, was found in your stool. Piles, ulcers, inflammation, polyps or, less often, bowel cancer can cause it. It is not a diagnosis, so please see a doctor for further tests.
Is the stool occult blood test a test for colon cancer?
It is a screening clue, not a cancer test. Many people with a positive result do not have cancer, and some cancers do not bleed at the time of testing. A colonoscopy is the test that can actually find or rule out bowel cancer.
Do I need to change my diet before a stool occult blood test?
It depends on the method. Older chemical tests can react to red meat and some vegetables, so a short diet change may be advised. Newer antibody-based tests usually need none. Follow the instructions given with your container.
Can iron tablets cause a positive occult blood test?
Iron tablets turn stools dark and can confuse some older test methods, although they do not cause actual bleeding. Tell the staff if you take iron, and do not stop it unless your doctor advises you to.
Why was this test ordered for my anaemia?
Slow bleeding from the gut is a common hidden cause of iron deficiency, especially in men and in women after menopause. This test helps your doctor decide whether the stomach or bowel should be looked at more closely.
Where can I get the Stool Occult Blood Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.