title: Dietary restrictions and fecal occult blood testing.
abstract: "Unprepped" sigmoidoscopy and fecal occult blood testing were performed simultaneously in 1,000 patients with no dietary restrictions. A total of 102 patients had a positive fecal occult blood test. Of these, 86 had visible blood in the rectum as demonstrated by sigmoidoscopy. Only two of the remaining 16 patients probably had a dietary-induced false-positive result on the occult blood test. Dietary restrictions for guaiac occult blood testing are unnecessary in more than 99 percent of patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009780:Occult Blood; D012812:Sigmoidoscopy