Comparative Study of Two Methods for Detecting Occult Blood in Stool: SD BIOLINE FOB® and HEMOCCULT® in Healthcare Facilities in Yaoundé and Douala

Background Occult blood testing (OBT) is a non-invasive method crucial for detecting microscopic gastrointestinal bleeding, often associated with colorectal cancer(CRC), the second most cause of death from cancer worldwide .CRC is the second most frequent digestive cancer in Cameroun , although there is no national screening program.Two types of OBT methods are cmmmonly employed :The classical guaiac-based occult blood test (gFOBT), and the immunological fecal occult blood test (iFOBT), which demonstrates superior diagnostic performance. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2, 2021, to August 20, 2022, in four health facilities. Adults over 21 years scheduled for colonoscopy were enrolled. Diagnostic accuracy indicators (sensitivity, specificity) of both tests were assessed against colonoscopy results. Results Of 323 patients screened , 108 were eligible .SD BIOLINE FOB® detected occult blood in 45.37% of cases, while Hemocult® detected it in 31.48 %. SD BIOLINE FOB® had higher sensitivity (68%) than Hemoccult® (41%), with both tests reaching 79 % specificity. It also revealed a greater number of abnormalities such as polyps and hemorrhoidal folds. Conclusion Compared to Hemoccult®, SD BIOLINE FOB® demonstrated superior sensitivity and lesion detection. Its use could be a valuable option in CRC screening strategies, especially in resource limited contexts like Cameroon. However, larger studies are necessary to consolidate these findings.