Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine
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J Neonatal Perinatal Med · May 2016
Routine fecal occult blood testing does not predict necrotizing enterocolitis in very low birth weight neonates.
To determine sensitivity, specificity, predictive value of routine fecal occult blood (FOB) testing on the identification of Bell's Stage II or III necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. ⋯ Positive FOB testing occurred in a majority of VLBW infants, with higher odds in the more preterm and IUGR. However, the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of routine FOB testing for identifying NEC were all very poor. Our data demonstrates that this test offers no advantages in the early diagnosis of NEC.