Besides blood, there are a variety of foods that can mimic blood in the stools. These include broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, vitamin C, potatoes and horse radish. Drugs which one must be avoided prior to testing include aspirin and any blood thinners like warfarin or coumadin.
Individual who taken iron tablets may also form dark stools which mimic blood.
If the stool test is negative for blood, nothing much needs to be done and one can repeat the test in 1-2 years.
If the test is positive, then it is recommended that the physician look for both the source and site of bleeding. Individuals with blood in stools may need additional testing like colonoscopy, upper endoscopy or a barium enema to look for lesions that can cause bleeding.
The fecal blood test is relatively inexpensive and the kits costs anywhere form $10-$25. Some insurance carriers and Medicare do cover the costs of fecal blood testing.
For more information on kits to check for blood in the stools, please visit www.medexsupply.com
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