The FIT test uses immunochemical technology to determine if there is gastrointestinal bleeding and has a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 99% for blood in the stools. The detection limit for the FIT test is 100 ng/mL where a test result ≤ 100 ng/mL is a negative test and a result >100 ng/mL is a positive test. This clinical performance is much higher than the traditional gFOBT and, unlike the traditional FOBT, the FIT has no dietary or medicinal restrictions. The FIT also has the advantage of requiring just one stool sample to be collected. In addition, the FIT test has replaced the gFOBT test in many colorectal screening programs.
For the reasons given above, the gFOBT test will be discontinued and will be replaced by the FIT for any fecal occult blood orders.
The FIT test is not covered by OHIP and is patient-pay and should only be ordered for patients who are not eligible for the provincial colorectal screening program.
Read More: Changes to Occult Blood Testing - (ON Only)