Soin S, Akanbi O, Ahmed A, et al. - Using primary data obtained in a community hospital setting, researchers conducted a retrospective analysis to investigate utilization of the Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), one of the diagnostic modalities indicated for screening patients for colorectal cancer (CRC), for patients admitted to a community teaching hospital. The research was carried out at Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago USA. Seven hundred twenty-nine patients (mean age was 65 years) who received FOBT were identified among which 290 patients had positive results. The most common reason documented for carrying out the FOBT was anemia. The most important factor that made the candidates ineligible for testing was the usage of contraindicated medication. For reasons other than CRC screening, the stool occult blood test is still used. Due to the presence of contraindications for testing, the majority of patients who were tested were not suitable candidates. Inappropriate FOBT testing resulted in further unnecessary investigations.