Cancer screening parameter FOB now on Eurolyser point-of-care instruments

The presence of hemoglobin (the major protein in red blood cells) in feces is indicative for the presence of blood (faecal occult blood, FOB) as a result of bleedings associated to pathologies of the gastrointestinal track such as colon polyps, adenomas, colorectal carcinoma, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of cancer in the western world, however, it often causes no symptoms until it has reached a relatively advanced stage. Thus, many organisations recommend the screening of this disease through FOB testing.
 
 

Advantages of the Eurolyser FOB test (quantitative immunologic assay)

• A definate (numeric) result:
  A numeric value is much more valuable for a proper diagnosis and also facilitates monitoring the patient.
  Strenght/Intensity and variability of occult blood determine the conditions of a high risk for CRC (colorectal cancer)
• Customizable “Cut Off” value:
  Quantitative immunologic tests allow hospitals, laboratories and practices to set individual cut-off values representative for their region or country. Studies have even showed that distinctly different values may be advisable for female and male patients; also for children compared to adults. Research in the field is limited still, but science is catching up – a quantative assay allows users to be flexible, even to an individual level if necessary.
• Preciser – less false positives than qualitative tests:
  The intensity of “occult bleeding” rises with increasing size of the polypes and the advanced stage of the CRC. A quantitative test detects both: the existence as well as the progression of the CRC.
  Also, while iFOB tests posess a certain risk of false positives due to the fact that the average amount of Hb in a stool sample can vary significantly, quantitative tests like the Eurolyser FOB do not misinterpret these samples.

 

The Principle

Polyclonal antibody Hb detection in feces. The latex particles coated with antibodies anti-human hemoglobin agglutinate when they react with feces samples containing human hemoglobin.

Method/Measurement

Photometric measurement of the turbidimetric complex at 700nm.

25 – 1000 µg/L (LOT dependent)
 
 

Order numbers

ST 0200 FOB (faecal occult blood) test kit (containing 32 tests)
ST 2000 FOB (faecal occult blood) control kit (2 x 2 ml (high and low) )
ST 0205 FOB (faecal occult blood) collector kit (32 collectors)