Table 2. Trials of Fecal Occult Blood Testing

Trial Characteristics Minnesota (2) UK (13) Denmark (14)
Frequency of testing Annual Biennial Biennial Biennial
Participants More than 45,000
men and women
ages 50-80
More than 150,000
men and women
ages 45-74
More than 60,000
men and women
ages 45-74
Duration of followup, years 18 18 8 10
Hydration of slides Yes (83%) No No
Participation rate 90% 90% 60% 67%
Requiring colonoscopy 38% 28% 5% 5%
Positive predictive value 1.9% 2.7% 10-12% 8-18%
CRC mortality RRR
(95% CI)
33%
(17%, 49%)
21%
(3%, 38%)
15%
(1%, 26%)
18%
(1%, 32%)
CRC mortality ARR 4.6 2.9 0.8 1.4

*Participation defined as completing at least one test.
Mostly rehydrated slides (83%).
RRR=relative risk reduction.
ARR=absolute risk reduction per 1,000 participants.


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