The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is used to identify microscopic traces of haemoglobin in faeces which is a common indicator of significant bowel disease (SBD).
Primarily used in colorectal cancer (CRC) referral pathways, FIT has been in routine use across the UK for several years, aiding the assessment of symptomatic patients referred from primary care. It has also been adopted as the testing method within the national bowel screening programmes.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread challenges to the health service and many routine diagnostics were disrupted. As a result, the applications for FIT diversified leading to its implementation in a range of pathways; from secondary care triaging to bowel surveillance, to Vague Symptoms Pathways (VSP). The proven diagnostic efficacy, and the patient-centric nature of the associated FIT-KITs (a pack containing everything the patient needs to take and return their sample), has allowed FIT to progress naturally into these pathways.
This is helping ensure patients are well managed and resource is allocated effectively during the ongoing peaks and troughs of the pandemic.
