One order code. One stool or rectal swab specimen. Fecal occult blood testing, ordered on the TLS Gastrointestinal (GI) Requisition. You may also see it listed as FOBT, stool occult blood, or C227.
At a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Test name | Fecal Occult Blood |
| Order code | C227 |
| Also known as | FOBT, Stool occult blood |
| Category | Chemistry |
| Target | Fecal occult blood |
| Specimen | Stool or rectal swab (selected on the GI requisition) |
| Ordered by | Ordering providers submitting the GI requisition |
What it detects
| Group | Target |
|---|---|
| Stool blood | Fecal occult blood |
When to order it
C227 is a checkbox on the GI Requisition, so you can order it alongside the other GI indications the form supports. The requisition lists these pre-printed diagnosis codes:
- K50.10: Crohn’s disease of large intestine without complications
- K52.29: Other allergic and dietetic gastroenteritis and colitis
- R10.10: Upper abdominal pain, unspecified
- R14.0: Abdominal distension (gaseous)
The form also has blank lines for additional diagnosis codes. Attach medical necessity documentation, SOAP notes, and visit history notes with the order.
Specimen collection
Select Stool or Rectal Swab under Specimen Collection Type on the GI requisition. Complete the remaining collection fields:
- Collection date and time (AM/PM)
- Collector’s name
- Place of collection: Office, Lab, Home, Outpatient, Skilled Nursing Facility, Nursing Facility, or Self-Referral / Walk-in
The requisition warns that missing patient information may delay specimen processing. Confirm demographics and insurance details before the specimen leaves your facility.
Container, volume, and stability requirements for this test are not specified in the documents available for this page. Call the lab at 248-800-6626 before collection if you need them. Partner facilities receive a one-page TLS collection guide for each test the lab offers.
Why order it from Total Lab Solutions
- Accredited and identified. CLIA #23D2265459, CAP accredited, Lab Director Louis Marchetti, PhD.
- One GI requisition. C227 sits on the same form as the 2250 Gastrointestinal (GI) Panel, which includes virus and bacteria panels, so one form covers multiple GI orders.
- Collection support for facilities. TLS provides its collection guide library to partner facilities at no cost. Training covers specimen handling and labeling, requisition completion, and EHR / portal integration.
- Billing options on the form. The requisition includes fields for Medicare, Medicaid, 3rd party, workers’ compensation, bill to patient, and bill to client.
To browse the full menu, see the Testing Panel directory. Related single-analyte listings include CRP (C reactive protein).
Frequently asked questions
What specimen collection requirements and stability limits apply to the fecal occult blood test (C227)?
The accepted collection types are stool and rectal swab, selected on the GI requisition. Record the collection date, time, collector’s name, and place of collection. Container, volume, and stability limits for C227 are not specified in the documents available for this page, so confirm them with the lab at 248-800-6626 before collecting.
Which patient dietary and medication restrictions should be addressed before FOBT collection?
No dietary or medication restrictions for C227 appear in TLS’s documents, so none are listed here. Ask the lab for the current patient preparation instructions before you give the patient collection guidance.
How does FOBT differ from FIT, and when should clinicians order one over the other for colorectal cancer screening?
TLS’s documents do not describe the methodology for C227 or list a FIT assay, so this page does not compare the two. Contact the lab to confirm what C227 measures and which test fits your screening protocol.
What is the typical turnaround time, and how are positive FOBT results reported and followed up?
A turnaround time and report format for C227 are not specified in the documents available for this page. Contact the lab for current turnaround information. Follow-up of a positive result is a clinical decision for the ordering provider.
What CPT and ICD-10 codes are commonly used when billing the fecal occult blood test, and does insurance cover it for screening?
No CPT code is documented for C227. The GI requisition pre-prints four ICD-10 codes: K50.10, K52.29, R10.10, and R14.0. It also leaves blank lines for others, and the form does not map any of these codes to C227. The requisition has fields for Medicare, Medicaid, 3rd party, and workers’ compensation, but coverage for screening depends on the payer. Verify billing codes and coverage with the lab and the patient’s insurer.
Ready to place a GI order or confirm C227 details? Explore our tests
