Your Home Test Kit (FOBT)

The Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) is a common screening method for average risk people aged 50 and over used by ColonCancerCheck. It's a simple test that you can do in the privacy of your home. The FOBT is the most widely available test for screening for colorectal cancer.

Make sure to speak to your health care provider about determining your risk for colorectal cancer and the appropriate screening method for you.

The ColonCancerCheck program has made FOBT kits widely available across Ontario. If you are 50 and over and at average risk for colorectal cancer, you can get an FOBT kit simply by asking your health care provider for one. They're free. If you don't have a health care provider or require information on how to get your take home FOBT kit, call INFOline at 1-866-410-5853.

The FOBT kit tests for blood in your stool. The presence of blood may be a sign of colorectal cancer. To use the test, you collect small samples of your stool on three different days. Once completed, you mail the kit in a postage-paid envelope to a laboratory for analysis or drop it off at your local laboratory. The FOBT kit includes a detailed, easy-to-use instruction sheet so you'll know exactly what to do.

Download the FOBT instruction sheet. Instructions are available in English, French and 24 other languages.

If your test is positive, it means you have blood in your stool. Your health care provider will inform you of your test result and arrange for follow-up care. A positive FOBT does not necessarily mean that you have cancer, however, 10% of people with a positive FOBT are found to have cancer during a follow-up colonoscopy, so it is very important that you seek appropriate care. If you don't have a health care provider, the ColonCancerCheck program will refer you to a health care provider for follow-up care.

If your test is negative, it means you have no blood in your stool. You will get a letter from ColonCancerCheck with your negative test result, and a reminder to repeat the test in two years. It is recommended that everyone age 50 and over do an FOBT every two years if the test result remains negative.

However, no test is 100% accurate. If you have or develop any of the symptoms of colorectal cancer, or if your family history of colorectal cancer changes, it is important that you see your primary care provider.

If you have questions about your test results, or haven't received your results within one month of completing the test you should contact your family health care provider. If you do not have a family health care provider and would like to know the status of your test, you can contact ColonCancerCheck at 1-866-662-9233. Please note that ColonCancerCheck cannot provide test results to participants by phone.

For more information about FOBT, read the FAQs.