How accurate are the mail in colon cancer tests

Mail-in colon cancer tests, also known as at-home stool tests or fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs), are designed to detect hidden blood in your stool, which can be a sign of colon cancer or polyps. The accuracy of these tests can vary depending on several factors, including the type of test, the individual's health status, and the presence of other medical conditions.

Here are some general accuracy statistics for mail-in colon cancer tests:

  1. Fecal Occult Blood Tests (FOBTs): These tests detect tiny amounts of blood in your stool. Studies have shown that FOBTs can detect colon cancer with a sensitivity of around 70-80% and specificity of around 90-95%. Sensitivity refers to the ability of the test to detect true positives (i.e., people with colon cancer), while specificity refers to the ability of the test to detect true negatives (i.e., people without colon cancer).
  2. Fecal Immunochemical Tests (FITs): These tests use antibodies to detect human hemoglobin in your stool. FITs have been shown to be more accurate than FOBTs, with a sensitivity of around 85-90% and specificity of around 95-98%.
  3. Multitarget Stool DNA Tests (MT-sDNA): These tests detect DNA mutations in your stool that are associated with colon cancer. MT-sDNA tests have been shown to be highly accurate, with a sensitivity of around 90-95% and specificity of around 95-98%.

It's important to note that these tests are not perfect and may not detect all cases of colon cancer or polyps. Additionally, false positives can occur, which means that a test may indicate the presence of cancer or polyps when none are actually present.

To improve the accuracy of mail-in colon cancer tests, it's essential to:

If you're considering a mail-in colon cancer test, talk to your healthcare provider about the best option for you and any potential risks or limitations. They can also help you interpret the results and determine the next steps if you receive an abnormal result.