• J Trojan, N Povse, O Schröder, and J Stein.
• Medizinische Klinik II, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany.
• Z Gastroenterol. 2002 Nov 1; 40 (11): 921-4.

ObjectiveGuaiac tests for faecal occult blood are still the most commonly performed screening procedure for colorectal cancer. Because both sensitivity and specificity of faecal occult blood testing are critical to cost-effective colorectal cancer screening programs, we investigated a rapid immunological test strip device for bedside detection of faecal occult blood.MethodsStool specimen from 100 patients were chosen for this study based on the presence (n = 50) or absence (n = 50) of faecal occult blood as measured with a human haemoglobin ELISA (cut-off level ResultsSensitivity and specificity of the immunological faecal occult blood test strip device were 76 % and 92 %, compared to 30 % and 90 % for the guaiac test. Increasing the cut-off level of the haemoglobin ELISA to ConclusionsThe new immunological test strip device is more sensitive than a guaiac test for the detection of faecal occult blood, whereas the specificity of both tests was comparable. However, the clinical validity of this new immunological faecal occult blood test strip device for colorectal cancer screening has to be established, yet.

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