The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program test kit is free and easy to do. You do the test in the privacy of your own home. Collect 2 tiny samples of your poo using the kit and mail them to the laboratory for testing. You will get your results after about 2 weeks.
If your test kit is damaged, expired or lost, phone the National Cancer Screening Register to ask for a new kit.
National Cancer Screening Register
Before you do the test
The test kit has clear instructions about how to do the bowel cancer screening test. Read these before you do the test.
You don’t need to change your diet or medication before collecting the samples.
What is in the kit
The kit contains everything needed to do the test:
- 2 toilet liners
- 2 collection tubes
- 1 ziplock bag
- 1 reply paid envelope
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program – Participant details form
Doing the test
You need to collect 2 tiny samples from 2 separate bowel motions (poos) — one from each poo. Collect the 2 samples as close together as you can.
Store your samples between 2°C and 8°C (ideally in the fridge) until you mail them. Do not freeze your samples. Mail your samples to the laboratory for testing as soon as possible.
Read our home test kit instructions for more details on doing the test.
If you need help
If you need help understanding the instructions, phone the test kit helpline. They will talk you through the test step by step.
Bowel Screening Test Kit Helpline
Sending your test
Keep the samples in the fridge until you are ready to return them by mail.
Return your samples as soon as possible. If it takes longer than 14 days from when you take the first sample to when the laboratory receives it, you will be sent another kit and asked to do it again.
Complete the participant details form. Put the form and your samples in the reply paid envelope.
Samples need to stay cool for as long as possible. Place the envelope in a mailbox in the cooler part of the day or take it to a post office.
National Bowel Cancer Screening Program – Participant details form
Getting your results
You should receive a letter with your test results within 4 weeks after you mail your samples back. Read more about understanding your results.
Your results will also be sent to:
- your GP or health service, if you nominated one on the participant details form
- My Health Record, unless you ticked the box on your participant details form to tell us you don’t want this to happen or you have opted out of My Health Record
- the National Cancer Screening Register