Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood
Authors: Michael L. Wolff
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

Letters2 August 2005Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult BloodMichael L. Wolff, MDMichael L. Wolff, MDFrom Albany Medical College and University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12208.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-143-3-200508020-00014 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Regarding the articles (1, 2) and editorial (3) on fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), I believe the lesson you have drawn is flawed, as illustrated in Nadel and colleagues' article (2): Physicians do not consistently follow recommendations. Although we can decry the poor practices of our colleagues, we must face the reality of the situation.Specifically, my concern is that locking up the guaiac cards, as Dr. Sox suggested (3), will provide a further excuse for excluding the digital examination of the prostate or performance of an appropriate cul-de-sac examination. It is likely that, even in emergencies, ...References1. Collins JF, Lieberman DA, Durbin TE, Weiss DG. Accuracy of screening for fecal occult blood on a single stool sample obtained by digital rectal examination: a comparison with recommended sampling practice. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:81-5. [PMID: 15657155] LinkGoogle Scholar2. Nadel MR, Shapiro JA, Klabunde CN, Seeff LC, Uhler R, Smith RA, et al. A national survey of primary care physicians' methods for screening for fecal occult blood. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:86-94. [PMID: 15657156] LinkGoogle Scholar3. Sox HC. Office-based testing for fecal occult blood: do only in case of emergency [Editorial]. Ann Intern Med. 2005;142:146-8. [PMID: 15657163] LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Michael L. Wolff, MDAffiliations: From Albany Medical College and University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12208.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAccuracy of Screening for Fecal Occult Blood on a Single Stool Sample Obtained by Digital Rectal Examination: A Comparison with Recommended Sampling Practice Judith F. Collins , David A. Lieberman , Theodore E. Durbin , and David G. Weiss , and the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study #380 Group*A National Survey of Primary Care Physicians' Methods for Screening for Fecal Occult Blood Marion R. Nadel , Jean A. Shapiro , Carrie N. Klabunde , Laura C. Seeff , Robert Uhler , Robert A. Smith , and David F. Ransohoff Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood: Do Only in Case of Emergency Harold C. Sox Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Edward P. Hoffer Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Christian Jackson and Robert Craig Office-Based Testing for Fecal Occult Blood Harold C. Sox Metrics 2 August 2005Volume 143, Issue 3Page: 235KeywordsBloodConflicts of interestDigital rectal examinationFatigueHematologic testsHypotensionLikelihood ratio ePublished: 2 August 2005 Issue Published: 2 August 2005 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2005 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...