Why check for colorectal disease?

People over 50 years of age should not ignore the health of their bowels, because 90% of colorectal cancers occur after the age of 50. Blood in the stool is a sign of colorectal problems, however, bleeding from the colon (large intestine) is not always visible to the naked eye. This is why health agencies recommend routine once-a-year stool tests for everyone over 50 years of age.

Although tests don’t prevent colorectal cancer, they can detect the disease early, so that it can be treated before it spreads.

The EarlyDetect™ colorectal test is done at home. No stool sample is needed. A specially treated paper is placed in the toilet bowl after a bowel movement, if there is blood in the stool, the color of the paper changes.

Patient counseling tips

A clock or timer is needed for this test.

The test takes place over 5 consecutive days.

The pouch should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture, before and after opening.

The kit should not be used after the expiration date printed on the package.

The patient should read and understand the instructions before doing the test.

To get accurate results, instructions must be followed exactly, step by step. It is especially important to remove all traces of toilet cleaners, disinfectants and deodorizers from the toilet bowl and tank, as the chemicals they contain can effect test results.