Colorectal Cancer Screening

The Importance of Fecal Blood Testing

Asymptomatic adults with an average risk of developing cancer are people who are 50 or over 50 years old, have no clinical symptoms, and have no history of the disease. Colonoscopy testing should be performed for confirmation if the stool blood test is positive.

People at high risk, including those with a family history of colorectal cancer in first-degree relatives, as well as patients with a history of inflammatory and long-term bowel disease, have a significantly increased chance of developing the disease.

In most cases, colorectal cancer is detectable by secreting blood tests in the FOB stool and, if positive, by complementary colonoscopy at the early stages and before clinical symptoms occur and can be treated promptly if identified. Fecal occult blood testing is recommended once or twice a year.

People at high risk for colorectal cancer are;

• In people over 50
• People who have lost weight without cause
• Anemia without a specific cause, especially in males

M2PK test in stool

Measurement of the enzymatic quantitative level of M2PK in stool specimens as a highly sensitive and specific test can be used to diagnose colon polyps and cancers. The benefits of M2PK testing include its low cost compared to non-invasive colonoscopy and no diet or restriction on food intake is required prior to testing.

Patient conditions for testing

The test does not require fasting and can be performed on stool specimens. Instructions for sample preparation are also available on the Transplant Lab Reference Guide.