Colon Cancer Screening Test (FIT)
Fecal immunochemical test
This test screens for blood in the stool that is not visible to the eye, which may be a sign of cancerous or pre-cancerous growths in the colon.
What type of test is this?
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
Benefits:
Collection Methods
Stool Sample
Over 10% of new colorectal cancer cases are in people under 50
Source: Screening for Colorectal Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965-1977. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.6238
About this test
About this test
Symptoms
Colon cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages. This is why early, and regular, colon cancer screening is so important.
If symptoms do occur they may include:
Blood visible in the stool
A change in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation, or loose stool)
Feeling that your bowels have not emptied completely
Rectal bleeding or discomfort
Unexplained discomfort, pain, or bloating in the abdomen
Unintentional weight loss (you may notice a drop in your clothing size, needing to tighten your belt, or rings feeling looser on your fingers)
Fatigue, weakness, or low energy
If you have noticed any of these symptoms, you should talk to your healthcare provider about appropriate testing.
How FIT testing works
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) detects microscopic blood in the stool, meaning blood that is invisible to the naked eye. There are many reasons why blood may be present in the stool, including hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), stomach ulcers, and polyps (non-cancerous growths). However, there may be more worrying causes of blood in the stool, including precancerous polyps and colon cancer.
FIT will not give you a diagnosis of cancer - it is a colon cancer screening test, which means it can help identify when there is a problem (i.e. bleeding) in the colon that needs to be followed up with your healthcare provider. The next step is usually a colonoscopy, which involves a specialist physician examining the inside of your colon, allowing them to take samples (biopsies) of any abnormal areas.
A colonoscopy is the gold standard for screening and diagnosing colon cancer, but getting one is not always easy or convenient. The LetGetChecked FIT is a great first step in your colon cancer screening journey if you want to take action now and start those conversations on protecting your colon health with your doctor.
If you think you may be at a higher risk for colon cancer based on your personal or family history, talk to your healthcare provider about when to start screening, what screening test is right for you, and how often you should be tested.
The sample must be collected on a Monday - Friday and returned on the same day.
What's measured
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
The Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is a screening test for colon cancer. It checks for hidden blood in the stool which may indicate the presence of colon cancer, or other benign conditions of the digestive tract (e.g. hemorrhoids). This test will not diagnose colon cancer, but it can help detect that you need further assessment by your physician and you may require further testing in the form of a colonoscopy.
With over 10 million tests taken, the reviews are in
I'm 39 years old...My GP arranged a colonoscopy purely based on the results provided by LetsGetChecked. I had a very large tumour in my bowel... I can’t speak highly enough of the kit. It has without doubt saved my life
Best experience with LetsGetChecked...instructions were simple...results were fast...highly trained nurses... highly recommend LetsGetChecked...especially when it concerns colon cancer screening
This was a great inexpensive way to get checked for colon cancer! I’m retired and not 65. My doctor wanted me to use another company that was $500! Super fast response and results
I purchased the colon cancer detection test....I received my results in 2 days...any questions after you receive your results there is a number you can call for help. I would definitely recommend
Very important test...I do it every 6 month...If ever a test comes back positive, I'll go to the doctor...it gives a piece of mind and a feeling that I'm not missing something serious
Non-invasive testing protocol, quick results, and very easy to understand what I need to do next. Highly recommend home colon cancer testing with LetsGetChecked.com! Thank you!
How it works
Easy sample collection
Collect your sample from the privacy of home and return using the prepaid shipping label
Review results
Your easy to understand results will be available through your online dashboard in 2-5 days
Get medical support
Additional 1-1 support from our clinical team may be provided to discuss your results
How does a FIT test compare to a colonoscopy?
These tests are very different in nature, but both play a vital role in the route to diagnosis. A FIT test is a non-invasive stool analysis to detect the presence of blood. It is an important step in detecting colon cancer early and can be done from the privacy of your home.
A colonoscopy is carried out by a specialist physician and involves inserting a camera into your colon. The physician can send a sample of any abnormalities to a lab for further testing. The results will determine if the growth is cancerous or benign.
30% of eligible adults are not up to date with their screenings
We know that, with busy lifestyles, making time for appointments can become a chore. That's why we created a screening test that's easy to do from home so that you can keep your health your top priority without sacrificing your schedule.
Source: Richardson LC, King JB, Thomas CC, Richards TB, Dowling NF, Coleman King S. Adults Who Have Never Been Screened for Colorectal Cancer, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2012 and 2020. Prev Chronic Dis 2022;19:220001
A team you can trust
Meet your dedicated, at-home clinical team. Our team of 30+ experts is here to help guide you on your health journey.
Dr. Robert Mordkin
Chief Medical Officer
Kristin O'Connor
Nurse Manager
Jennifer Patykiewicz
Clinical Pharmacist
Rick Aguayo
Nurse Practitioner
Tiffany Liles
Nurse Practitioner
Still have questions?
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The CDC recommends that everyone should have screening for colon cancer from the age of 45 but the right test depends on a few different things - your own medical history, your family history, and whether you have any symptoms that are concerning for colon cancer. This test is also a great option for those who would like to take action earlier in life to be proactive about their screening.
If you feel you have a higher risk of colon cancer, you should talk to your healthcare provider about the best screening test for you, when you should start screening, and how often you should be tested.
If you have already noticed blood in your stool or if you have symptoms you're concerned about, you should talk to your healthcare provider about the best test for you.
The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) detects blood in the stool, including blood that is invisible to the naked eye. It is used as a screening test for colon cancer because precancerous polyps and cancerous growths may cause bleeding in the colon. There are other conditions that may also cause bleeding, including hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, and stomach ulcers. Because of this, FIT is not a diagnostic test - it cannot tell whether you have cancer or not. It can only detect whether there is blood in the stool. A positive FIT needs to be followed up with your healthcare provider, usually with a colonoscopy.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard screening test for colon cancer, however, it is not always easy to get one. It involves looking at the inside of the colon and rectum using a camera on a long, flexible tube that is inserted into the rectum. Colonoscopy is considered to be the best test for colon cancer because not only does it allow abnormal growths or lesions to be seen, but it also allows samples (biopsies) to be taken of these lesions so that a diagnosis can be reached.
A positive FIT result means that blood was detected in your stool. It’s important to remember that this is not a diagnosis. There are many reasons why this may happen and you need to follow up with your healthcare provider for further investigation to determine the cause. Your healthcare provider will want to take a detailed history of any symptoms you may be having, any medical conditions you have, and whether you have a history of colon cancer or polyps in your family. Based on this, they will likely recommend further investigation, usually with a colonoscopy.
Our colon cancer screening FIT test can be used by anyone over the age of 18. The CDC recommends screening from the age of 45, or younger if you have a higher risk of colon cancer. If you think you may be at a higher risk for colon cancer based on your personal or family history, talk to your healthcare provider about when to start screening, what screening test is right for you, and how often you should be tested. This test is also a great option for those who would like to take action earlier in life to be proactive about their screening.
For this test a small stool sample is required. This is a non-invasive sample collection that can be done from home.
Activating the test connects you to the unique alphanumeric barcode within your LetsGetChecked sample collection kit. The laboratory cannot process your sample if the test is not activated and linked to you. You should only activate your test when you are ready to take your sample.
Yes. LetsGetChecked has a team of board-certified physicians who will review your order and results and have created detailed result breakdowns for your testing journey.
Our clinical team is on standby throughout the testing process and, if your test results are abnormal, you may receive a call to discuss your results and next steps.
Please ensure that the sample is collected on a Monday-Friday and returned on the same day using the carrier method provided within the sample collection kit. Each of our health tests includes a prepaid shipping label to return your samples to the laboratory.
Please do not collect or return samples on a Saturday or Sunday.
Keeping your personal data secure is important to us. We use appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure security and confidentiality of your information, and only share your information where required to deliver our products and services or where we have a legal basis to do so. All samples are disposed of following analysis.
Your samples are processed in the same labs used by primary care providers, hospitals and government programs.
LetsGetChecked laboratories are CLIA approved and CAP-accredited, which are the highest levels of accreditation.
Sample collection kits are manufactured within our ISO 13485 certified facility, the highest level of accreditation for medical devices.
We don't accept insurance at this time. We work to keep our tests as affordable as possible and our test costs are generally lower than the costs incurred from a trip to a healthcare provider.
We accept many Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) cards. They can be used in the same way that a debit or credit card would be used at checkout.
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