The short version
- Free kits are sent to eligible Australians aged 50 to 74, every two years
- People aged 45 to 49 can request their first kit
- The test looks for blood invisible to the eye — symptoms are not required
- A positive result usually means a colonoscopy, and most are not cancer
Why this one is worth the five minutes
Bowel cancer is among the most common cancers in Australia, and it is one of the most treatable when found early. It typically develops slowly from polyps over years, which is exactly what makes screening effective — there is a long window in which to find it.
Around half of the kits posted out are never returned. It is the single largest missed opportunity in cancer prevention in this country.
Who gets one, and when
Kits are sent free to eligible Australians aged 50 to 74, every two years. People aged 45 to 49 can request their first kit rather than waiting, and anyone eligible who has lost or binned theirs can request a replacement.
If you have a family history of bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or previous polyps, a different and usually more intensive surveillance schedule may apply — talk to your GP, because the standard program is designed for average risk.
Doing the test
The kit tests for blood in the stool that is invisible to the eye. You collect two small samples from separate bowel motions using the supplied sticks, following the instructions in the pack.
Practical points: do it when you are home for a couple of days, keep the samples cool and post them promptly — delays and heat degrade the sample and can force a repeat. Do not do the test while you have haemorrhoid bleeding or during a period, as it will muddy the result.
What the result means
A negative result means no blood was detected. It does not mean you can ignore symptoms that appear later — the next kit is two years away, and cancers can develop in between.
A positive result means blood was found. It is not a cancer diagnosis — haemorrhoids, polyps and other benign causes are far more common. It does mean you need a colonoscopy, and your GP will arrange the referral. Do not sit on it.
Symptoms trump screening, always
Book an appointment regardless of your screening status if you have blood in the stool, a persistent change in bowel habit, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, or unexplained tiredness that turns out to be iron deficiency.
Screening is for people without symptoms. Symptoms need assessing on their own terms — see GP consults.
Common questions
You can request a replacement through the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, or ask your GP who can help you arrange one.
No. It means blood was detected, which has many causes including haemorrhoids and polyps. It does mean a colonoscopy is needed to find out why.
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