Fecal immunochemical testing is a noninvasive alternative to colonoscopy, but researchers at three U.S.-based universities are examining how effective the testing really is.
Here's what you should know:
1. Researchers are beginning a five-year study funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health to examine FIT effectiveness. The research is being conducted at Iowa City-based University of Iowa, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
2. Researchers are examining 16 FIT tests in the U.S. market.
3. Researchers are enrolling patients between 50 years and 85 years who are scheduled to undergo a colonoscopy. Participants will take four FIT tests and then undergo a colonoscopy. The FIT tests will be sent to the University of Iowa for testing.
4. Researchers will use the colonoscopy results to determine the effectiveness of the FIT tests.