[Haemoscreen in comparison with haemoccult as screening test for colorectal carcinoma (author's transl)].

Faeces of 1600 outpatients were tested for occult blood both with Haemoscreen and Haemoccult. A positive test was found with both methods in 35 patients (2.2%), a further 36 patients (2.3%) were positive only with Haemoscreen and 8 patients (0.5%) only with Haemoccult. In the first group six patients were found with colorectal carcinoma and 12 with large polyps, in the second group were one patient with carcinoma and four patients with polyps and in the third group two patients with polyps. Among patients with both tests negative carcinoma (n = 1) and polyps (n = 18) were diagnosed. Faecal testing was shown to be a simple and successful screening method for early recognition of intestinal carcinoma.