After you return your samples, you and your doctor will be sent your test result within 4 weeks.
Your test result can be negative, positive or inconclusive.
Negative test result
A negative test result means that no blood was found in your samples. You don’t need to take any further action for now.
A negative result does not mean that you don’t have bowel cancer or that you will never develop bowel cancer. This is because:
- some bowel cancers don’t bleed, or only bleed sometimes
- the bowel cancer screening test detects most (up to 85%) but not all bowel cancers
This is why it’s important to do the screening test every 2 years.
See an example negative result letter.
What happens next
If you have a negative test result, you don’t need to do anything. You will be sent another test in 2 years.
If you start having symptoms of bowel cancer, even after a negative test result, see your doctor straight away.
Positive test result
A positive test result means that 20 micrograms or more of haemoglobin (a protein found in red blood cells) per gram of poo was found in 1 or in both of your test samples.
A positive result does not always mean you have bowel cancer. There are lots of reasons you could have blood in your poo, and most of these are not related to cancer.
See an example positive result letter.
What happens next
If you have a positive test result, you should see your doctor to find out what’s causing the bleeding. Your doctor will probably refer you to a specialist to have a procedure called a colonoscopy.
For more details, read the colonoscopy information brochure. You will also get this brochure with a positive test result letter.
For more on what you can expect before, during and after a colonoscopy, see colonoscopy: what you need to know.
Inconclusive test result
Sometimes the lab can’t test your samples. This produces an inconclusive test result.
This can happen if:
- the tube contained too much sample
- only one sample was provided
- the samples were damaged
- the kit was expired
- samples were received more than 14 days after the date the first sample was taken
- there were no collection dates on the tubes or participant details form.
See an example inconclusive result letter.
What happens next
We will send you another test kit within 4 to 10 weeks, so you can do the test again.
Recording results
The National Cancer Screening Register collects information about your screening, including test results.
Self-serve at the National Cancer Screening Register participant portal, complete a webform or call 1800 627 701.
The register's privacy policy outlines how it handles your information.
National Cancer Screening Register
