LabCorp On Demand ColoFIT Home Collection Test
Pros
- HSA/FSA payment accepted
- Available to anyone age 18 and over
- Results available online
- Purchase and testing process overseen by healthcare professionals
- Results posted 3–4 days after sample received
Cons
- Slightly higher cost
- Must be done annually
- Not specific to colon cancer
- Only sold on LabCorp site
Key Specs
- Type of sample: Stool
- Type of test: FIT
- Testing method: Mail-in lab analysis
- Follow-up care: Not offered
The LabCorp On Demand ColoFIT test is a great option for anyone looking to screen at home without performing the actual test themselves. With this one, all you have to do is collect your stool sample and mail it to the lab, where a professional administers the FIT and posts the results online.
This adds a few days of suspense before getting your results but removes the potential for user error in administering the test yourself, making it a great option for anyone feeling unsure of the testing process. LabCorp will perform the test and post your results online in your personal account within three to four days of receiving the sample.
Your submission will be reviewed and approved by a healthcare professional. For results that require follow-up care, patients will be contacted by phone and email as well as through their online portal. So while there is no doctor’s visit involved, LabCorp’s service includes some support from actual healthcare providers.
Simple Colon Health Test
Pros
- FSA/HSA accepted
- Free follow-up care for positive results
- Affordably priced
- Available for less at online retailers
Cons
- Not available in New York
- Must be done annually
- Not specific to colon cancer
Key Specs
- Type of sample: Stool
- Type of test: FIT
- Testing method: Mail-in lab analysis
- Follow-up care: Available
Simple Healthkit is a California-based company that offers an at-home FIT with lab analysis. The company was founded by Sheena Menezes, PhD, and aims to make healthcare more accessible by offering integrated care. Its at-home test kits are intended as a starting point to get individuals the care they need.
The company prides itself on having a 100 percent outreach rate for people who receive positive test results. A member of their team is guaranteed to follow up with you to make sure you understand your results. Follow-up treatment is free in cases of a positive result; customers are encouraged to schedule a telehealth appointment through Simple HealthKit to discuss their results and next steps at no charge.
Users described the kit as easy-to-use and straightforward, with results posted online as soon as three days after mailing in the kit. However, the kits are not available in New York State.
In addition to Amazon and Walmart, you can also purchase this test on Simple Healthkit's website.
Diagnox Colonox FIT
Pros
- Results in 10 minutes
- Detects hemoglobin concentrations as low as 45 ng/ml
- FDA-approved for home use
- No need to mail in sample
- Suitable for all ages
Cons
- No support during testing or follow-up care
- Home testing leaves room for user error
- Sample collection paper is flimsy
Key Specs
- Type of sample: Stool
- Type of test: FIT
- Testing method: Conducted at home
- Follow-up care: Not offered
Diagnox offers a variety of at-home test kits for issues like urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and vaginal health. Its tests are designed and priced for repeat use, making this one of the most affordable options on the market. It’s available in multipacks of two or three as well as a single kit.
The test boasts one of the highest sensitivities on the market, detecting concentrations of blood in the stool as low as 45 ng/mL. Some lab-tested kits only detect as low as 100 ng/mL. Results appear in as little as 10 minutes. The kit is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
However, some customers complained of the kit returning no result (no line turning up), while others found the sample collection paper to be too flimsy to properly collect a sample. Also, there’s no follow-up assistance from a healthcare professional.
Pinnacle Biolabs Second Generation FIT (2-pack)
Pros
- FSA/HSA eligible
- Results in 5 minutes
- High user ratings
- Easy sample collection
Cons
- Home testing leaves room for error
- Shipping can be slow
Key Specs
- Type of sample: Stool
- Type of test: FIT
- Testing method: Conducted at home
- Follow-up care: Not offered
The Second Generation FIT is made by Pinnacle BioLabs, an industry leader in at-home FIT. Its accuracy, price, and customer service are all solid, but what truly sets this kit apart is its extra-easy sample collection method.
While most other kits require users to poop on a piece of paper — with many complaints of the paper breaking, and the sample falling into the toilet below, which can lead to a contaminated sample and inaccurate results — this kit pulls the sample off a piece of used toilet paper. This leaves less room for contamination and more room for your dignity. It’s understandable why this has been the top-selling at-home FIT kit for the past four years running, with over 18 million kits sold.
Instant-View iFOB Test (2-pack)
Pros
- Over 99.5 percent accurate
- Results in 1 minute
- Easy sample collection
- Suitable for all ages
Cons
- Home testing leaves room for error
Key Specs
- Type of sample: Stool
- Type of test: FIT
- Testing method: Mail-in lab analysis
- Follow-up care: Not offered
Instant-View’s Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test (iFOB, which is the same as an FIT) is made in California by Alfa Scientific Designs and uses a very small sample, allowing users to conveniently obtain their sample from a piece of used toilet paper.
The test cassette features a patented Driven Flow technology, which squeezes the sample drop up the cassette and through the reaction area at a higher speed than other kits. Not only does this allow you to read the sample results almost immediately — it also maximizes the reaction of the binding complexes. According to Alfa, this improves the accuracy of the result. Sadly, no follow-up care is offered.
Exact Sciences Cologuard Kit
Pros
- Specifically tests for colon cancer
- Detects 92 percent of colon cancers
- Only needs to be administered every 3 years
- Support from healthcare professionals
- Free with Medicare, Medicaid, and most insurance
Cons
- Requires a prescription
- Not available to anyone under age 45
Key Specs
- Type of sample: Stool
- Type of test: FIT and abnormal DNA
- Testing method: Mail-in lab analysis
- Follow-up care: Available
Like FIT, Cologuard is a stool sample–based test, but in addition to blood, it also tests the stool sample for abnormal DNA caused by cancer, making it even more sensitive than the FIT. Cologuard is only for people ages 45 to 75 with no symptoms and no family history of colon cancer. If you do fall into this group, Cologuard is likely a great option for you.
The kit, manufactured by Exact Sciences, is covered by most forms of insurance, and 96 percent of patients receive it completely free. You will need a doctor’s prescription, but Cologuard can help you with this part, too. The Cologuard website will send you over to Recuro Health, its telehealth partner, to get a doctor’s approval if you appear to be eligible after the online survey.
The test even just got an update — increasing the sensitivity from 92 to 95 percent, meaning better detection for both cancer and precancerous polyps.
Why Trust Everyday Health
Mary Dennis
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Mary Dennis is a Singaporean American health and science writer based in New York. Her work has been published in the Beijinger, Nautilus, South China Morning Post, Motherly, and Verywell Mind.
Her interest in covering mental health increased after the pandemic revealed our society's increasing need for care and information about how to manage our emotional health. She is passionate about maternal mental health issues in particular, and is the founder of Postpartum Brain, a website designed to educate and encourage people to learn more about perinatal mental health issues.
Mary has a masters degree in science journalism from Columbia University.
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Medical Reviewer
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Fact-Checker
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