Faecal Immunochemical Test
A positive FIT test will tell your doctor that you have bleeding occurring somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract. This blood loss could be due to ulcers, diverticulitis, bleeding polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, haemorrhoids (piles), from swallowed blood due to bleeding gums or nosebleeds, or it could be due to benign or malignant tumours. Anything that sticks out into the intestine, like a polyp or tumour, and is rubbed against by the faeces as it passes through, has the potential to bleed now and again. Often this small amount of blood is the first, and sometimes the only, symptom of early bowel cancer, making the FIT a valuable screening tool.
Blood in the stool may be the only symptom of early cancer. If the cancer is detected before it metastasises (spreads to other areas), there is a greater chance it can be treated successfully. A positive FIT test does not necessarily 'prove' that you have cancer. There are other possible causes of bleeding and other follow-up procedures will need to be done to find the source of the bleeding.
One sample of faeces collected into a special container.
You collect a sample yourself, in the privacy of your own bathroom, using a special kit. The actual collection method varies between manufacturers. Read all the instructions very carefully before starting to collect your sample.
For the FIT test, there are no dietary, drug, or dental procedure restrictions. However, avoid collecting samples during a menstrual period. The test uses antibodies to detect only human blood from the lower digestive tract (colon).
For all tests, follow the instructions that are provided by the doctor or included in the test kit.
What does the result mean?
Please review your results in line with the cut-off in use within your local laboratory. In a patient with symptoms, a result of greater than or equal to 10 ug/g faeces is a positive result (NICE NG12). A positive result indicates blood in the stool and further investigation is required to identify the source of the bleeding.
Page created: 16 June 2025
