Office techniques to maintain the health of aging patients.

The fecal occult blood test is safe and inexpensive; however, diet, medications, desiccation of the sample, and delay in developing the specimen may affect results. If the test is used, six separate samples, two from each of three consecutive bowel movements, should be examined to obtain optimum results. Serum cholesterol need not be assessed routinely in geriatric patients. Dietary restriction of fats is a necessity only in the context of a weight reduction diet.