Colorectal Health Kit

The FIT is the recommended screening test for colorectal cancer.

THe FIT is a safe and painless cancer screening test that can be done at home and only takes a few minutes. The test checks someone’s stool (poop) for tiny amounts of blood, which could be caused by colon cancer or pre-cancerous polyps. (Polyps are growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer over time).

FIT testing is convenient because:

• it is user-friendly and requires minimal contact with stool (poop)
• only a single stool sample is required for testing
• you can eat and take your medications without restrictions prior to testing.

Note: People who are at increased risk* of developing colorectal cancer should speak with their health care practitioner about what testing is right for them.

*People at increased risk have a family history of colorectal cancer that includes 1 or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling or child) with the disease.

Age: The older you are, the more likely you are to develop colorectal cancer. Most people diagnosed are 70 years of age or older.

Heredity: You are more likely to get colorectal cancer if someone in your family, especially your immediate family, has been diagnosed with it.

Diet: A diet high in red meat and low in fruits and vegetables may increase your risk.

Weight: Obesity and a lack of physical activity increase your risk.

Alcohol consumption: Alcohol, especially beer, may increase your risk. Lower rates of colorectal caancer have been found in those who drink no alcohol.

Smoking: Smoking also increases your risk.

The kind of screening test you should get depends on how high your risk is for getting colorectal cancer.

The kit can be used by anyone between the age of 50 to 74 who is not eligible for OHIP or the Ontario Health FIT program. Please speak with your health care provider for more information.

You are at average risk of developing colorectal cancer if no member of your immediate family (parent, sibling or child) has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

You are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer if you have a family history of colorectal cancer that includes 1 or more first-degree relatives (parent, sibling or child) with the disease. Individuals with increased risk should speak with their health care provider about what screening test is right for them.

You are not eligible to take the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) if you:

1. Are currently in a high-risk screening program for colorectal cancer

2. Have been diagnosed with or regularly monitored for colorectal cancer in the last 5 years.

3. Have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (such as, Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis).

4. Have blood in urine (pee) or stool (poop) (for example, from hemorrhoids or constipation).

5. Have taken the test within the last 21 months.

The Colorectal Health (FIT) kit uses the fecal immunochemical test (FIT).

The FIT demonstrates high specificity (94-95%) and sensitivity (82%) in detecting abnormal trace quantities of blood in your feces (poop). An abnormal result indicates the need to follow up with a more rigorous procedure (such as a colonoscopy).²

FIT testing is recommended every 2 years. Screening too frequently does not provide extra protection. 

There are two options to access your FIT at-home collection kit:

1. The LifeLabs Colorectal Health (FIT) kit:

Order the test from home and have it delivered to you; no doctor’s visit necessary. If you meet the requirements for FIT, a physician from LifeLabs’ clinical partner, Trillium Health Partners, will sign the request form. Learn more about the self-collection process and instructions.

2. Your provincially covered testing program

People who are at average risk* for developing colorectal cancer, and have provincial health coverage, can discuss their eligibility for a provincially covered FIT kit with their family doctor or nurse practitioner.

In Ontario, if you are eligible for a FIT, the test will be ordered for you and LifeLabs will then mail a FIT package to your Ontario mailing address of choice.

• If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, please call Health811 at 1-866-828-9213.
• If you are in the North West region or the Hamilton, Niagara, Haldimand Brant region you can visit a mobile screening coach to discuss your eligibility for FIT.
• If you live on a First Nation reserve, you can visit a health centre or nursing station for more information.

*People at average risk are between 50 to 74 years old with no first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child) who have been diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The Colorectal Health (FIT) kit by LifeLabs is $75.

If you are eligible for Ontario Health FIT through OHIP-coverage, it is free of charge. Please visit the Ontario Health website for more information.

It is important to return your completed FIT kit as soon as possible (within 2 days of taking your sample).

1. Using the LifeLabs Colorectal Health (FIT) kit:

• You can mail your completed FIT sample using the pre-paid blue return envelope provided in the Colorectal Health (FIT) kit package.
• You can also drop it off at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre – visit the LifeLabs Location Finder (locations.lifelabs.com) for drop-off locations and hours.

2. Through your provincially covered testing program:

• You can mail your completed FIT using the pre-paid yellow return envelope provided in the FIT package.
• You can also drop it off at a LifeLabs Patient Service Centre – visit the LifeLabs Location Finder (locations.lifelabs.com) for drop-off locations and hours.
• If you live on a First Nations reserve, please contact your health centre or nursing station to discuss drop off options.
• If you have questions about how to return your completed FIT, call LifeLabs at 1-833-676-1426.

All at-home collection request forms expire within 6 months of being e-signed by a healthcare provider. Be sure to complete the test prior to the request form expiring.

All at-home collection kits are final sale, and your sample must be returned to LifeLabs within six months of purchase and two days of collection.

For at-home collection using the Colorectal Health (FIT) kit by LifeLabs, your results will be available online. A notification will be sent to you with a clickable link when your results are ready to be viewed on our secure platform.

Abnormal:  If the result is abnormal, this means that blood in your stool (poop) was detected. An abnormal FIT result does not necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps, but it does mean that additional testing is needed. (Polyps are abnormal growths on the lining of the colon or rectum that can sometimes turn into cancer over time.) You will receive a call from Trillium Health Partners (a LifeLabs clinical partner) within the next 1-2 business days. You may instead choose to contact your Telehealth/Primary Health Care provider to arrange for a colonoscopy to follow up.  ​

Normal: If the result is normal, this means that no blood was detected in your stool (poop) sample. It is recommended you continue to monitor your health regularly, including screening for colorectal cancer with FIT (fecal immunochemical test). ​

Invalid: In a small number of cases, your result may come back invalid due to a sample collection error or a processing error. If the invalid result is due to a sample collection error, a replacement kit is available from LifeLabs at a reduced cost. If the invalid result is due to a processing error, LifeLabs will provide a replacement kit free of charge.

If you have a normal result and have questions, please reach out to LifeLabs (www.lifelabs.com/contact-us/).

If you have an abnormal result, LifeLabs clinical partner, Trillium Health Partners, will contact you within the next 1-2 business days.​

• Health Canada: Screening for Colorectal Cancer
• Ontario Health: FIT
• MedlinePlus
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• National Cancer Institute