YOUR LABORATORY [PLEASE INSERT HERE]          Dr Callum G Fraser,Clinical Leader
                                                                                           Department of Biochemical Medicine
                                                                                           Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
                                                                                           DUNDEE DD1 9SY

                                                                                           Telephone 01382 632512
                                                                                           Fax 01382 645333
                                                                                           e-mail callum.fraser@tuht.scot.nhs.uk


                    ASSOCIATION OF CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTS – SCOTTISH REGION

                                    AUDIT ON FAECAL OCCULT BLOOD TESTING


Faecal occult blood testing [FOBT] has been a component of the repertoire of Clinical Biochemistry [and other] laboratories for many years. Moreover, FOBT are often performed in ward side-rooms, clinics, and general practitioners’ surgeries and health centres. However, because of the current major world wide interest in bowel screening, that is detection of disease in the asymptomatic apparently healthy population, there has been a recent explosion in excellent published work that challenges much existing practice.

You may already have heard that the Scottish Colorectal Cancer Screening Pilot has been very successful and the results have objectively informed us regarding the most effective and efficient screening algorithm. Current research, together with the wealth of newer information, will help the Programme Board decide on the algorithm to be used in the roll out of the national programme that is currently being planned. The Scottish Bowel Screening Programme will extend beyond Tayside, Grampian and Fife to the whole of Scotland in 2007.

A concern that has been expressed is that the approaches adopted in the Scottish Bowel Screening Programme will be different to current local practice. For this reason, we would be very grateful if you would participate in this “scoping exercise” to find out as much information as possible on current FOBT in Scotland so that we may update the service through a variety of mechanisms including via the Scottish Bowel Cancer Framework Group. If you have any questions, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. I can assure you that you will get feedback. Please e-mail or mail of FAX this questionnaire to me

LABORATORY FOBT

1. Does your laboratory offer FOBT?

If NO, please inform which laboratory service [if any] offers FOBT in your institution.



2. If YES, how many FOBT did the laboratory do in 2004
[or in a recent 12 month period]?

3. Please detail the method[s] that you use.



4. What clinical indications are given to justify the FOBT?


5. Do you have any specific information, guidelines or material in your Laboratory Handbook for those wishing to do FOBT? 

If so, please send a copy.

WARD AND/OR CLINIC FOBT

6. Is FOBT done in wards and clinics in the
acute sector for which you provide services?


7. If YES, do you know how many were done in 2004?

8. What method[s] is [are] used?



9. What clinical settings are the ward or clinic FOBT used?



10. Do you receive FOBT from wards and clinics in your institution?


11. What percentage of your FOBT workload is this?


12. Do the samples come in pots or on cards or in collection tubes?



GENERAL PRACTICE FOBT

13. Is FOBT done in general practices or centres in the primary
care sector for which you provide services?


14. If YES, do you know how many were done in 2004?

15. What method[s] is [are] used?



16. What clinical settings are GP FOBT used?

17. Do you receive FOBT from GP?


18. What percentage of your FOBT workload is this?


19. Do the samples come in pots or on cards or in collection tubes?