Starting Tuesday, March 21, 2023, the primary fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer screening throughout the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) and affiliated clinics will switch to the Quidel QuickVue iFOB test. This will replace the current Hemoccult ICT test (OCCULT BLOOD, FECAL HEMOGLOBIN BY IMMUNOASSAY, SCREENING) [LAB8778].

Advantages of the Quidel test include increased sensitivity and the ability to use a single stool specimen instead of the two specimens required for the current Hemoccult ICT testing.

The new test ordering code is:

OCCULT BLOOD, FECAL HEMOGLOBIN BY IMMUNOASSAY, SCREENING (QUIDEL iFOB OR FIT) [LAB9266]

Kits for the Quidel testing are being distributed to outpatient phlebotomy sites (main campus and Iowa River Landing) as well as outlying clinics. The kits contain a self-addressed box with pre-paid postage for mailing back to UIHC Iowa River Landing Laboratory for analysis. Patients may also bring the collection box back to clinical sites, which will then forward to UIHC Iowa River Landing Laboratory. If dropped off at a Main Campus site, the unit can forward on to the UIHC Core Laboratory.

During this transition period, specimens collected in the older Hemoccult ICT will still be analyzed and then resulted in Epic.

Questions should be directed to Matthew Krasowski, MD, PhD (384-9380, matthew-krasowski@uiowa.edu).