Urgences QC
FreeEvery 2 years
Home stool test
Home stool test (FIT, called the RSOSi test in Quebec)
How to get it
1
If you have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, ask them to prescribe the home stool test. They’ll tell you where to get the kit.
2
If you don’t have a family doctor, you can book an appointment at a local point of service through the Clic Santé website or by calling 1-877-644-4545.
3
During that appointment a health professional checks whether the test is right for you and talks with you about the pros and cons. If you decide to do it, you’re given the kit and an instruction sheet.
4
Do the test at home, keep the sample in the fridge and take it to the collection centre within 48 hours.
5
The professional who asked for the test receives the result. In some cases it also appears in your health record after a month or more.
What to say
“Hello, I’d like an appointment for colorectal cancer screening with the home stool test. I don’t have a family doctor.
What it’s like
The test is done at home and it’s painless. You don’t have to change what you eat. You let your stool fall onto the paper sheet from the kit, placed over the water in the toilet, then scrape a small amount with the stick attached to the tube’s cap and close the tube tightly. If you have your period or bleeding hemorrhoids, wait until 3 days after the bleeding stops.
The details
Who it’s for
Every 2 years for people aged 50 to 74 at average risk: no symptoms, no personal history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, and no family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or a genetic syndrome.
Cost
Free for most eligible people, including the sample kit