Accuracy of immunological fecal occult blood testing for colorectal cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: The present study was carried out to assess the accuracy of immunological fecal occult blood testing as a means for colorectal cancer screening.

METHODS: Two hundred patients with colorectal cancer and 100 healthy controls served as subjects of the study. A total of 300 subjects were tested by immunological and chemical fecal occult blood tests. As a further test of diagnostic accuracy, mass screening for colorectal cancer using immunological fecal occult blood testing was conducted on 3,365 residents within the Nagano prefecture, and all of the subjects were followed for 1 year through verification from cancer registration of colorectal cancer patients.

RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of immunological fecal occult blood testing were 67 and 96%, respectively, values significantly higher than those obtained by chemical fecal occult blood testing. Also, sensitivity and specificity in mass screening were 91 and 96%, respectively, indicating an accuracy higher than that achieved by chemical occult testing.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that immunological fecal occult blood testing is a useful strategy for colorectal cancer screening.