The right bowel cancer check for your situation.
Not everyone needs the same test. If you have no symptoms, a home stool test may suit you. If bowel cancer runs in your family, a gene test can look for an inherited risk. If you have symptoms, a private GP can assess you and refer you for a specialist, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.
Got symptoms? A home test isn't the right first step.
Home stool tests are designed for people without symptoms. If you have any of the symptoms below, you should be assessed by a doctor — either your NHS GP or our private GP service — who can arrange the right investigation.
- Blood in your stool or bleeding from your bottom
- A change in your usual bowel habit lasting three weeks or more
- Unexplained weight loss or tiredness
- Pain or a lump in your tummy
- A blood test showing low iron (iron-deficiency anaemia)
Which route is right for me?
This is a guide only, not a medical assessment. If you're unsure, book a GP consultation.
Recommended: GP consultation
With symptoms, you need a clinical assessment rather than a home screening test. A private GP can examine you, arrange blood tests and refer you for a gastroenterologist, colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. You can also see your NHS GP, who can refer you on an urgent pathway if needed.
Recommended: Hereditary cancer gene test — or GP review
Your family history may point to an inherited risk. A gene test with genetic counselling can help clarify this. Depending on your history, you may also be eligible for earlier or more frequent colonoscopy — a GP consultation can help plan this.
Recommended: ColoAlert® home test
With no symptoms, a home stool test is a convenient way to check. If the result is positive, you'll be advised to follow up with a doctor — usually for a colonoscopy, which we can help arrange.
ColoAlert® at-home stool test
ColoAlert® combines a faecal immunochemical test (FIT), which looks for hidden blood, with analysis of DNA markers associated with colorectal cancer. You take the sample at home and post it to the laboratory.
A negative result doesn't rule out bowel cancer completely, and a positive result doesn't mean you have cancer — it means you should have further investigation, usually a colonoscopy.
Hereditary cancer gene test
Some bowel cancers run in families because of an inherited gene change, such as Lynch syndrome. Our hereditary cancer panel analyses 36 genes linked to inherited cancer risk from a simple saliva sample, with genetic counselling to explain what your result means for you and your relatives.
- A close relative diagnosed with bowel cancer under 50
- Several relatives on the same side with bowel, womb or related cancers
- A known inherited gene change in the family
- 36-gene hereditary cancer panel from a saliva sample
- Genetic counselling support
- Results reviewed by a UK doctor
A gene test tells you about inherited risk — it doesn't check whether you have bowel cancer now. If you have symptoms, see a GP first.
Private GP consultation & specialist referral
See an experienced Northwest Health GP, remotely or at our Bamber Bridge clinic. Your GP will take a full history, arrange any blood tests and, where appropriate, refer you privately for one of the options below. Investigations are booked after your GP assessment so the right test is chosen for you.
| Option | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Gastroenterology referral | Appointment with a bowel specialist (consultant gastroenterologist or colorectal surgeon). | Best when the cause of symptoms is unclear and a specialist opinion is needed. |
| Colonoscopy | A thin camera examines the whole large bowel, usually with sedation. | Allows biopsies and removal of polyps during the same procedure. |
| Flexible sigmoidoscopy | A shorter camera test of the lower part of the bowel (rectum and sigmoid colon), often without sedation. | Quicker, with simpler preparation (usually an enema). Suits some symptoms, such as bright red bleeding, but doesn't examine the whole bowel. |
Prices and available locations are shown when you book. Your GP may recommend a different investigation from the one you selected if it's more appropriate for you.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an NHS GP referral?
No. You can order a home test directly, or book a private GP consultation, and our GP can make the private referral for you.
Is a home test as good as a colonoscopy?
No. Colonoscopy is the most thorough way to examine the bowel. Home stool tests are a convenient check for people without symptoms; a positive result usually leads to a colonoscopy.
How is ColoAlert® different from the NHS FIT test?
The NHS screening programme uses FIT, which checks for hidden blood. ColoAlert® adds analysis of DNA markers associated with bowel cancer alongside FIT. It does not replace your NHS screening invitation — keep taking part when invited.
What happens if my home test is positive?
You'll be advised to see a doctor for further investigation, usually a colonoscopy. You can book a private GP consultation here to arrange this, or contact your NHS GP.
Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy — which should I have?
It depends on your symptoms, age, family history and general health. Your GP will discuss the options with you. Colonoscopy examines the whole large bowel; flexible sigmoidoscopy is a shorter test of the lower bowel that can suit some symptoms, such as bright red bleeding.
Who should consider the hereditary gene test?
People with a strong family history of bowel cancer — for example a close relative diagnosed young, several affected relatives, or a known gene change in the family. Genetic counselling is part of the service.