Best At-Home Colon Cancer Tests

Everlywell was founded in 2015 and offers direct-to-consumer tests that are done in conjunction with laboratories. The company says that the labs it works with abide by industry standards, such as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certification and, in some cases, College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation. Everlywell provides other services along with the tests, including help interpreting results, a consultation with a physician to discuss test results, and further information and resources about colon cancer. Consumers register their kit through the Everlywell website once they receive their materials in the mail.

To do the test, you'll take a sample of stool using brushes (much like small paintbrushes) that are included with the kit. After a bowel movement, you'll need to brush the surface of the stool for about 5 seconds, then shake off any debris on the brush, then dab the brush onto the test card so that only water is transferred. Next, you'll repeat the procedure with a second brush. Finally, you place the sample into the specimen box and return it using the provided return envelope and shipping label.

Everlywell's FIT costs $49. Shipping is free, both to receive the test and to send it to the lab. Everlywell accepts payment from health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs). Test results are returned in about five days.

Available for purchase at many drug stores, this test provides results in minutes. Pinnacle BioLabs is a privately held company certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manufacture various medical test kits for use at home. The company was founded in 2011 and started producing consumer tests in 2016. Second Generation indicates that its FIT detects globulin (proteins found in blood) levels at 50 ng/mL (50 billionths of a gram) with 98% sensitivity and 96% specificity.

The test comes with a collection tube that contains a wand attached to the cap comes with the test. he manufacturer suggests scooping stool off of toilet tissue with the wand. Once the stool is on the wand, you place it back into the collection tube. Then you'll add three drops of a solution that comes in the kit to a test cassette, and the test window will give results within one to three minutes. Two lines will appear for a positive test result (which means that blood is present in the stool) and one line will appear for a negative result. Some patients report ambiguous test results (such as a faint second line or discoloration in the test window).

One Second Generation FIT test costs around $25 and it can be ordered from the manufacturer or some drug stores. Or, you can buy a package of two tests for around $30.

The least expensive and easiest option for testing at home that we found is from Biomerica, Inc., founded in 1971. The company manufactures and markets tests for laboratories, physician's offices, and consumers. Its FIT test can be ordered over the counter for use at home to detect blood in the stool. Biomerica says that its test will detect occult blood of as little as 2mg in 100ml of water.

The EZ Detect test is meant to test stool from one person. It comes with five test tissues, a positive control package, a patient instruction sheet, and a test result postcard. After a bowel movement. place a test tissue into the toilet. The results of the test are available after 2 minutes. A positive result (meaning that there is blood present) will cause the test strip to appear an “unmistakable” blue-green color. The results are then recorded onto the postcard so that they can be shared with a physician either by mail or in person. After recording the results, you can flush away the test tissue.

One EZ Detect test kit is about $12, plus shipping and handling, if purchased from the manufacturer. It is also found in drug stores or other online retailers. Multipack kits are also available.

Colon cancer testing should be completed at regular intervals, and LetsGetChecked makes this easier with a money-saving subscription plan.

Founded in 2014 in Dublin, Ireland, the company launched its United States operation in 2017. Its website states that the labs it partners with to process tests are CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited.

Before you take a sample, you must activate the test by logging into the LetsGetChecked website and entering the code that comes with the kit. To collect a stool sample, unscrew the collection tube cap and dip the stick on the end of the cap into the stool (while it's in the toilet bowl) until the end is covered. Then place the stick back into the sample tube and screw on the cap. Next, place the sample tube in the biohazard bag that came with the kit. The bag goes into the testing kit box for mailing in the provided, prepaid return envelope. The sample should be returned the same day it is collected (Monday through Thursday only). Results are available in two to five days on a secure website.

In the event of a positive test result, a nurse from LetsGetChecked will call in order to discuss the next steps. You can see your results via the LetsGetChecked website.

The FIT from LetsGetChecked costs $89. You can get a lower price by signing up for a three-, six-, or 12-month subscription or through discount codes (offered periodically).

While a more expensive option, Labcorp OnDemand stands out for offering access to its healthcare provider partner, PWNHealth, in order to help you understand results. Labcorp was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. It provides diagnostic, drug development, and technology-enabled solutions. The company’s website states that the labs it uses to process tests are CLIA-certified.

You can order the Colorectal Cancer At-Home Test on the Labcorp website, but little information is available on the site regarding how sample collection. When ready to take a stool sample, the test needs to be registered by logging into the Labcorp OnDemand website and entering the bar code found on the kit. The kit should be returned the same day the sample is taken by scheduling a FedEx pickup or taking it to a FedEx dropbox.

Purchase includes the cost of physician services from PWNHealth. Test results can be checked via the Labcorp website. In the event of a positive test result or one that requires prompt follow-up, the company may contact consumers by a phone call or email.

The cost of the FIT from Labcorp OnDemand is $89. Included in the price is access to independent physician services from PWNHealth LLC. Services from PWNHealth may cover the review of lab test results and other consultation services. Labcorp OnDemand does not take insurance, but accepts payment from HSA and FSA accounts using a Mastercard or Visa.