Clinical Utility of Fecal Immunochemical Transferrin Test in Gastrointestinal Bleeding Detection
Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding can result from various conditions, including ulcers, neoplasms and infectious enterocolitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of the fecal immunochemical transferrin test compared with the fecal Hb test in various clinical settings.Methods...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Annals of Clinical Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.acm.or.kr/article_aws/?num=KJCM2018_51 |
| Summary: | Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding can result
from various conditions, including ulcers, neoplasms
and infectious enterocolitis. The aim of this study
was to evaluate the utility of the fecal immunochemical
transferrin test compared with the fecal Hb test
in various clinical settings.Methods: A total of 1,116 clinical stool specimens
submitted for fecal occult blood testing were prospectively
examined using both FIT Hb and FIT Tf
kits (AlfresaPharma, Japan). To verify the specificity
of the two tests, stool specimens from 265 health
check-up examinees were also included.Results: A review of medical records revealed that
396 patients had clinical conditions associated with
GI bleeding. FIT Hb and FIT Tf results were positive
in 156 (39.4%) and 137 (34.6%) cases, respectively,
and an additional 194 (49.0%) cases tested positive
with either FIT Hb or FIT Tf. The two tests showed a
moderate strength of agreement (kappa value; 0.56).
Colitis (n=71) was associated with the most GI bleedings,
followed by acute gastroenteritis (n=29), GI ulcers
(n=27) and GI cancers (n=15). While the first
two groups had higher positive rates on FIT Tf, patients
in the latter two groups had higher positive
rates on FIT Hb. Notably, four of nine specimens
from premature babies tested positive only on FIT Tf.
The specificity of FIT Hb and FIT Tf was 100% and
99.6%, respectively.Conclusion: Concurrent use of FIT Hb and FIT Tf improved
the detection rate of occult GI bleeding, especially
in patients with infectious GI disease (such as
colitis or gastroenteritis) and in premature babies.
(Ann Clin Microbiol 2018;21:51-57) |
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| ISSN: | 2288-0585 2288-6850 |