The Faecal Occulut Blood(FOB) / Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) looks for tiny traces of blood in your poo that are too small to see. The test recognises human blood. This means it is less likely to pick up other blood in your poo that might have come from something you ate.
Why do I need to do a FOB/FIT test?
Your doctor might give you this test as part of the investigation for your symptoms. The FIT results help your doctor decide whether to refer you urgently for more tests.
You might have to do this test if you have symptoms which could be caused by bowel cancer. Symptoms might include:
a change in your normal bowel habit, such as looser poo, pooing more often or constipation
a lower than normal level of red blood cells (anaemia)
unexplained weight loss
tummy (abdominal) pain
How do I do a FOB/FIT test?
You do this test yourself at home. You only need to collect one sample of poo.
Your doctor will give you the test. Or they will arrange for you to get one in the post.
The easiest way to collect the sample is to use an old plastic container, line it with toilet paper and put it in the toilet. And then have a poo into the container.
Do not wee into the container. And do not let your poo touch the water or the toilet.
Once you have collected your poo:
dip the stick from the testing kit in the poo
make sure the end is covered with poo
put the stick back in the tube and twist it shut
write the date on the side of the tube
put the tube into the sample bag
After the test
Please send the sample to the lab using return shipment.
