What is the bowel cancer screening test?
The bowel screening test, known as the immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT), is a simple at-home test that checks for early signs of bowel cancer in people without symptoms. It detects small amounts of blood in the poo that are often too tiny to be seen with the naked eye.
Who is bowel screening for?
- If you’re aged between 45 and 74 years, you are eligible to do a bowel screening test every two years through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
- People aged 50 to 74 will receive their kit in the mail. The kit will be sent to the address on your Medicare card.
- People aged 45 to 49 can request their first kit at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701.
The test kit will continue to be sent to your home every two years following your previous test being completed.
Make sure your Medicare details are up-to-date
How can you participate?
The free bowel screening test is something you do yourself easily at home. Instructions are clearly given in the pack you will receive. Your results will indicate what next steps, if any you need to take.
Find out more about the test and how to complete it
Why is bowel cancer screening important?
If bowel cancer is found early, more than 90% of cases can be successfully treated. Bowel cancer can develop with no symptoms or family history. That’s why regular screening is important, even if you feel well and live a healthy lifestyle.
If you have a family history of bowel cancer, speak to your GP.
Learn more about bowel cancer and its symptoms.
What do your bowel screening test results mean?
A positive test result means that blood was found in 1 or both of your test samples. A positive result does not always mean you have bowel cancer.
There are lots of reasons you could have blood in your poo, such as polyps and haemorrhoids and most of these are not related to cancer
Blood in your poo does need to be investigated to make sure you’re healthy. Contact your GP to discuss your results and if you need more tests.
A negative test result means there is no blood in your poo samples, and you don’t need to take any further action for now. A negative result does not mean that you don’t have or won’t get bowel cancer in the future. If you have a negative result, you still need to test again in two years.
If you’re confused, worried or start having symptoms of bowel cancer, speak to your GP.
If you haven’t received your results within 4 weeks, it may be because they were inconclusive. This means the lab can’t analyse your sample. You will be sent another test kit within 4 to 10 weeks, so you can do the test again.
An inconclusive test result doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It simply means the lab was unable to read the sample.
This can happen for a several reasons, such as:
- only one sample was provided
- the samples were damaged
- the kit was expired
- the tube contained too much sample
- samples were received more than 14 days after the first sample was taken
- there were no collection dates on the rubes or participant details form.
Common questions about bowel cancer screening
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program is designed for people who have no symptoms of bowel cancer. If you have:
- symptoms of bowel cancer, speak with your doctor about getting a colonoscopy or other tests as soon as possible
- another bowel condition, such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease, consult your doctor for advice on the right tests
- a strong family history or a genetic condition linked to bowel cancer, talk to your doctor about the most appropriate testing options for you.
People aged 45 to 49 can request their first bowel screening kit by visiting www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register at 1800 627 701. You can also ask your doctor for a free test kit.
After completing your first test, you will receive a new test kit in the mail every two years.
People aged 45 to 49 can request their first bowel screening kit by contacting the National Cancer Screening Register. After completing the first test, you will receive a new test kit in the mail every two years.
If you haven’t requested a test kit before your 50th birthday, one will be automatically sent to your home address when you turn 50.
You should receive your free home bowel screening test kit within the first six months of your 50th birthday. If you haven’t received your kit by then, call the National Cancer Screening Register at 1800 627 701.
The target population for the program is informed by the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the prevention, early detection, and management of colorectal cancer, which are approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
In September 2023, the NHMRC approved updates to these guidelines to reflect the latest scientific evidence, including recommendations on the appropriate age for screening.
Bowel cancer is relatively rare in younger age groups. Screening large populations of younger people would lead to a high number of people undergoing unnecessary clinical investigations, despite having a very low likelihood of being diagnosed with cancer.
If you are under 45 and concerned about your risk of bowel cancer, or if you have symptoms or a significant family history, it’s important to talk to your doctor.
If you’re not eligible for the program, you can still get tested for bowel cancer.
Your GP can request a home screening test for you, and the cost of pathology may be subsidised by Medicare. You can also purchase test kits over the counter at some pharmacies, or online through certain pathology services and health organisations.
Before buying a test kit, it’s a good idea to discuss your situation and the use of home screening tests with your GP.
The free home bowel screening test
While no screening test is 100% accurate, the at-home bowel screening test is highly effective at detecting early stage bowel cancer. Regular screening every two years can reduce your risk of dying from bowel cancer by up to one-third.
The test requires two samples because it increases the likelihood of detecting any problems. Some polyps or abnormal growths may only bleed occasionally, so taking two samples helps ensure that any potential issue is more likely to be detected.
The samples need to be taken from two separate poo’s. It’s best to collect both samples as close together as possible, ideally within 10 days, and then send them to the laboratory as soon as both samples are completed.
Yes, each bowel screening test has an expiry date, which can be found on the back of the cardboard envelope. It’s important to complete the test as soon as possible.
Yes, do not collect samples if you have:
- bleeding haemorrhoids (piles). If this happens, see your doctor
- blood in your urine, stool, or in the toilet bowl. If this happens, consult your doctor as soon as possible
- your menstrual period. Wait at least three days after your period before doing the test
- recently had a colonoscopy
You don’t need to change your diet or avoid taking any medications before collecting your samples.
Keep the first sample in the fridge until you’ve taken the second sample, and then you can take both to the post office. Make sure to post the envelope within 24 hours, or mail it in the late afternoon (before 6pm).
It’s important to keep the samples cool, so avoid leaving them in hot places, such as a car.