The SUCCEED® FBT is an accurate and sensitive test for excessive equine occult blood albumin and hemoglobin in the feces as an indicator of potential pathological conditions of the GI tract.
Keep in mind that occult fecal blood components can arise from a variety of GI tract conditions, including but not limited to:
- Bleeding ulcers (gastric or colonic)
- Excessive parasite activity
- Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE)
- Lesions caused by hard particles of feed or other ingested material
- Petechiation, hyperemias or lipomas
Additionally, a positive test result (especially Test H) can arise from extraneous sources, such as:
- After dentistry or exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage
- Mare ovulation
- Post-surgery bleeding
Additionally, the sensitivity of the antibodies in the FBT is specifically set to a level above the level of blood that can occur natural in a normal, healthy horse. This is to avoid false positive results, ensuring that a positive FBT result reflects a true pathological condition. As such, it is possible for a horse with low-grade ulcers (such as grade 1 gastric ulcers) to test negative on an FBT.
As with any diagnostic, a definitive diagnosis should not be based on the result of a single test. The test is designed to be complementary to blood tests and physical examination. For practitioners experiencing a positive Test A without a positive Test H, one of the differential diagnoses should include a protein-losing enteropathy, especially in the presence of hypoproteinemia/hypoalbuminemia on a CBC/chem profile.
Failure to carefully follow the instructions in this SUCCEED FBT Use Instructions and Technical Information Sheet may lead to incorrect interpretation.
