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FIT Bowel Test
The quantitative faecal immunochemical test, which measures human blood in a stool sample down to levels the eye cannot see.
- Doctor-reviewed results
- Laboratory analysis
- 1 to 2 working days from lab receipt
- No fasting required
What’s included
1 marker measured
Faecal immunochemical test (FIT)
Measures tiny amounts of human blood in a stool sample that may not be visible to the eye. It is specific to human haemoglobin, so what you have eaten does not affect it.
Overview
FIT measures human blood in stool at levels far below anything visible, and because it is specific to human haemoglobin, what you have eaten does not affect it. It is the same type of test the NHS bowel screening programme posts out. People order it privately when they are below the age NHS screening starts, or between screening invitations. NHS screening is free when you are eligible, and a private test does not replace it.
FIT measures haemoglobin from human blood in stool, and because it is specific to human haemoglobin it is not affected by what you have eaten. It is the same type of test the NHS bowel screening programme posts out, and it is used to work out who needs a camera test sooner. A negative result is reassuring, but bowels can bleed on and off, so it does not settle a symptom that carries on. Do not take the sample during a period, ask us first if you are bleeding from piles, and see your GP about any bowel change that persists whatever this result says.
Who this is for and who it isn’t
Who it’s for
- Adults aged 18 and over
- Adults below the age at which NHS bowel screening starts
- Anyone with bowel cancer in a parent, brother or sister
Who it isn’t for
- A negative FIT is reassuring but bowels can bleed on and off, so it cannot settle a symptom that carries on. It is also not a diagnosis of anything: a raised result does not always mean cancer. Common causes include piles, small tears and polyps (small growths that can be removed), and the way to look properly at the bowel is a camera test your GP arranges.
- If a close relative had bowel cancer, particularly before the age of 50, or more than one relative has had it, ask your GP whether you need extra checks. Do not take the sample during a period. If you have visible bleeding from piles, ask us before you take it, because that blood can affect the result.
- Any persistent change in bowel habit, blood you can see, or unexplained weight loss needs a GP appointment whatever this test says, and so does a low iron or ferritin result with no obvious explanation.
- Anyone with a new, severe or worsening symptom: contact your GP or call NHS 111. A test you buy today is not a substitute for being examined.
Common reasons people choose this test
- Bowel cancer in a parent, brother or sister
- Being below the age at which NHS bowel screening starts
- Being between NHS screening invitations
These are reasons people choose to test, not signs that something is wrong. A result is one part of a picture your doctor puts together with your history and an examination.
What your result looks like
Every result is shown with the unit and the reference range exactly as the laboratory reported it, with the doctor’s note underneath.
- Faecal immunochemical test (FIT)▲ High
- Result
- 38 µg Hb/g faeces
- Range
- <10
| Marker | Result | Units | Range | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faecal immunochemical test (FIT) | 38 | µg Hb/g faeces | <10 | ▲ High |
Doctor’s note (example)
Blood has been found in the sample at a level above the threshold. Piles and a small tear are much commoner explanations than anything serious, and the usual next step a clinician would arrange is a camera test to look properly.
Values above are examples. Your report shows your own results with the laboratory’s units and reference range for your age and sex, reviewed, signed and released by a GMC-registered doctor.
How it works
- Your kit arrivesPosted to your door, with instructions and what you need to send your sample back.
- You take your sampleA stool sample you collect at home, using the kit we post you
- The laboratory analyses itYour sample is processed for the measurements included in this test. Lab processing typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receipt of your sample.
- A doctor reviews and releases itA GMC-registered doctor reads every result and signs the report before it reaches you.
- Sample
- Home stool kit
- Preparation
- No fasting required
- Who it's for
- Any sex · ages 18+
How to prepare
What we can and can’t tell you
The reference range beside each result is the laboratory’s own. A result in range is not a clean bill of health and a result outside it is not a diagnosis. Most ranges cover about 95% of healthy people, so about 1 in 20 healthy people fall just outside any one range. No test result replaces an examination or your own doctor’s judgement, and none of these panels is a cancer screening programme.
Read the full note
FIT measures blood in a single stool sample. Bowels can bleed on and off, so a result below the threshold is reassuring but does not settle a symptom that carries on, and a result above it does not always mean cancer, since piles, small tears and polyps are common causes, but it always needs following up. Calprotectin, where included, rises with inflammation from many causes, including anti-inflammatory painkillers and a recent stomach bug.
Neither test looks at the bowel itself; a camera test does that. Whatever the result, blood you can see, a lasting change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss or tummy pain that does not go away need your GP.
Frequently asked questions
Does what I eat affect it?
No. Older tests reacted to blood in food, but FIT is specific to human haemoglobin, so red meat, beetroot and vitamin C make no difference. Eat normally.
What does the number mean?
FIT is quantitative, so it reports how much haemoglobin was found rather than a yes or no. NHS bowel screening uses a threshold to decide who is offered a camera test; your report prints the laboratory's own threshold and range and the reviewing doctor explains where you sit.
Should I take more than one sample?
The NHS programme uses a single sample, and that is what this kit provides. If bleeding is intermittent, a single negative cannot exclude it, which is why persistent symptoms still need a GP.
Is this the same as bowel cancer screening?
It is the same type of test the NHS programme uses, but a screening programme is more than a test: it includes the invitations, the thresholds and the follow-up pathway. This gives you the result. NHS screening remains the organised route and is free when you are eligible, and if you have lost your NHS kit you can call the free NHS bowel screening helpline on 0800 707 6060 (England) and ask about a replacement.
How long do results take?
The laboratory typically takes 1 to 2 working days from receiving your sample. This does not include kit delivery, sample collection or return postage. A doctor reviews your results before they are released.
Can I choose a home kit or a clinic?
This test uses a stool sample you collect at home, not a blood sample. The kit arrives by post with step-by-step instructions and what you need to send it back.
Is a doctor involved?
Yes. Every result is reviewed by a GMC-registered doctor who signs it off and explains what it means and what to do next.
Is it confidential?
Your results are available through your secure patient portal. Our privacy policy explains how your information is handled and when it may be shared to provide your care.
What happens to my sample and results?
Your sample is analysed at a UKAS-accredited laboratory (ISO 15189). A GMC-registered doctor then reads every result and signs the report before it is released to your secure portal, so nothing reaches you unreviewed. Each result is reported with the laboratory's own threshold or range. The doctor's note explains what your result means and what usually happens next: a FIT result above the threshold is a reason to see your GP, who may arrange further tests such as a camera test. If a result needs urgent attention, the reviewing doctor is alerted straight away and we contact you by phone the same working day rather than leaving it in the portal for you to find.
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