newfoundland Test Kit Bowel Health

he Bowel Health Test is a rapid test to qualitatively detect low levels of faecal occult blood. The test uses a double antibody assay to selectively detect faecal occult blood at 50 ng/ml or higher, or 6 μg/g faeces. In addition, unlike guaiac assays, the accuracy of the test is not affected by the diet of the patients. 

The membrane is pre-coated with anti-haemoglobin antibodies on the test line region of the test. During testing, the specimen reacts with the particle coated with anti-haemoglobin antibodies. The mixture migrates upward on the membrane chromatographically by capillary action to react with anti-haemoglobin antibodies on the membrane and generate a coloured line. The presence of this coloured line in the test line region indicates a positive result, while its absence indicates a negative result. To serve as a procedural control, a coloured line will always appear in the control line region, indicating that the proper volume of specimen has been added and membrane wicking has occurred.

Many diseases can cause hidden blood in the faeces. This is also known as faecal occult blood (FOB), human occult blood, or human haemoglobin. In the early stages, gastrointestinal problems such as colon cancer, ulcers, polyps, colitis, diverticulitis, and fissures may not show any visible symptoms, but only occult blood. Traditional guaiac-based methods lack sensitivity and specificity, and also have diet restrictions prior to testing. When detected early, 9 out of 10 cases of bowel cancer can be treated successfully.