Faecal-immunochemical-test.co.uk aims to raise awareness and provide tailored information to clinicians, laboratory staff, and patients about the purpose and value of testing for faecal occult blood using the FIT immunochemical turbidimetric method, as well as the different support services available.
The Faecal Immunological Test (FIT) is an established bowel cancer test. Utilising a simple picker, the test is a clean and convenient way to check for blood in your poo.
If you have been asked by your Doctor to take a FIT test, you’ll find resources here to assist you with understanding more, and how to take the test itself.
The Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) is now an established bowel cancer test. This diagnostic assay identifies the presence of hidden blood in the stool, known as faecal occult blood (FOB), which can be an early sign of colorectal cancer. FIT uses antibodies specific to human haemoglobin so is more accurate and sensitive, provides a quantitative measurement, and gives fewer false positive results than other tests.
Read MoreFor the National Bowel Cancer Screening programmes FIT is bringing many advantages. Easier sampling methods are more acceptable to people invited for screening, which promotes greater uptake. Non-subjective, automated processing of samples advances laboratory efficiencies, improving standardisation and quality control. FIT is more sensitive and can detect cancers more reliably and at an earlier stage than previous methods used.
Read MoreNICE Guidance DG56 recommends “Quantitative faecal immunochemical tests to guide referral for colorectal cancer in primary care”. NICE concludes that a cut-off of 10 μg of Hb/ g faeces in a FIT has a high negative predictive value for colorectal cancer and other serious bowel diseases, therefore, FIT should be used to triage for referral to secondary care, people whose symptoms suggest colorectal cancer, but in whom a definitive diagnosis of cancer is unlikely.
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Author: Kayleigh Roberts, Senior Product Manager FIT, Alpha Laboratories What is Bowel Cancer Screening? From breast to bowel, in the UK we are lucky to have free and comprehensive screening programmes that can help to detect common cancers and conditions before they show obvious symptoms or become more serious. Screening programmes typically target those at…
Author: Alex Ure, Junior Product Manager FIT, Alpha Laboratories Ltd The Backbone Behind Bowel Cancer Support Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, yet early detection and timely intervention can significantly improve survival rates (Cancer Research UK, 2023)1. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting screening, and supporting patients…
Author: Kayleigh Roberts, Senior Product Manager FIT, Alpha Laboratories Ltd. FIT for All When NICE DG56 was published in August 2023 it highlighted the benefits of FIT across a wider cohort of patients and updated its recommendations to state that “additional research is needed to evaluate methods to improve access, uptake and return of FIT…
