Rectal Exam, Digital (DRE) Details

This is a procedure, not a lab test, and so it is not performed by LabSafe.

A Digital (finger) Rectal Exam checks for abnormalities of organs or other structures in the pelvic and lower abdominal area. During a digital rectal examination, a health professional inserts a lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the rectum and may use the other hand to press on the lower abdomen or pelvic area. This examination is commonly done to check the prostate gland in men and the uterus and ovaries in women. Other organs, such as the bladder, can sometimes also be felt (palpated) during a digital rectal exam.

A Digital Rectal Exam is routinely done for men as part of a complete physical examination and for women as part of a regular gynecological examination.