Tag: False positive test

False positive results occur in 1-2% of all fecal occult blood tests performed on an unrestricted diet. These misleading outcomes can cause unnecessary anxiety and lead to further, more invasive testing, making proper dietary preparation for a guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) crucial.

According to the official Cologuard instructions, no special preparation or dietary changes are needed before taking the test. This means the question of what foods can cause a positive Cologuard test is based on a common misconception, as food and drink will not affect the results.