Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)

Test Alias / Common Abbreviations

 

FIT, faecal haemoglobin

 

Department

Biochemistry
Royal Stoke University Hospital (in-house analysis)

Biochemistry (referred to external laboratory)
Samples received at Leighton Hospital and Macclesfield District General Hospital are referred to Warrington Hospital, Lovely Lane, WA5 1QG.

Pre-analytical information  

 

Add-on requests: Not accepted

Minimum Retest Interval: 6 months (180 days) – Leighton and Macclesfield only.

 

 

Sample  Collection instructions:

 

A stool should be collected using the specified FIT collection device (see below). The FIT collection pack includes detailed instructions on how to do this. 

Blue topped stool pots and other plain containers cannot be accepted.

FIT collection packs should be provided to the patient by the healthcare professional requesting the test. Should FIT analysis be required in the inpatient setting, please contact the laboratory.

 

Sample Transport & Stability Information:

 

Samples should be sent to the laboratory on the same day as collection to ensure sample integrity is maintained.  If a delay in receipt of the sample is anticipated, please contact the laboratory to discuss storage requirements.

Sample collection date must be clearly labelled on the FIT device. Samples need to be analysed within 14 days of collection to ensure accurate results.

For requests made in Staffordshire, FIT analysis is performed in-house at our Royal Stoke laboratory. For requests made in Cheshire, samples are referred to Warrington Hospital for analysis.

For generic information on test requesting, sample labelling and packaging, and sample transport – see the frequently asked questions here.

 

Sample Type, Container & Volume

FIT collection pack

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIT collection device

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Turnaround Time

Based on receipt at testing site.
Within 7 days

 

 

 

 

 

FIT result (ug/g)

Interpretation

<10

Low risk of colorectal cancer, provided patient does not have unexplained iron deficiency anaemia or persistent/recurrent anorectal bleeding.  See interpretative comment on reports for full details.

≥10

Raised FIT. Patient should be referred urgently on suspected lower GI cancer pathway. See interpretative comment on reports for full details.

Results outside the reference range do not necessarily indicate disease. Similarly, results within the reference range do not preclude abnormality. Please contact the Duty Biochemist for discussion of individual patient results.

The primary purpose of measuring the FIT is to detect minute, non-visible traces of human blood in a stool (poo) sample to help screen for or rule out colorectal (bowel) cancer in symptomatic patients (e.g. iron deficient anaemia, unintentional weight loss, anorectal bleeding).

Please see NICE guidance DG56 and NG12 for further information.

Please note, this is different to the national bowel cancer screening programme for non-symptomatic patients. For further information on this, please click here.

There are a number of non-pathological factors that can influence levels of specific analytes, giving falsely elevated or reduced levels. If you require more information regarding the effects of these factors on the individual test results, please contact the Duty Biochemist.

For more information, please see the following: https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/faecal-immunochemical-test

Reviewed / Updated On: 02/12/2025