Key points
- Your FIT number is the amount of blood in your stool sample, in micrograms of haemoglobin per gram (µg/g).
- If your GP requested the test because of symptoms, 10 µg/g or more leads to an urgent referral (NICE).
- NHS bowel screening uses a higher cut-off: 80 µg/g in Scotland and Wales. England is moving from 120 to 80 µg/g, with national coverage due by March 2028.
- The number shows how much blood was found, not where it came from. A result above the cut-off needs the bowel examined, usually by colonoscopy.
- A result below the cut-off is reassuring, but symptoms that carry on still need review.
What does the number on my FIT result mean?
Your FIT number is the amount of human blood found in your stool sample, measured in micrograms of haemoglobin per gram of faeces (µg/g). It tells you how much blood was there. It does not tell you where the blood came from or what caused it.
FIT (faecal immunochemical test) uses antibodies that recognise human haemoglobin, so food such as red meat does not affect the result and no special diet is needed. Blood from the stomach and upper bowel is largely broken down before it reaches the sample, so FIT mainly picks up bleeding from the colon and rectum. That is where bowel cancer and polyps develop, and also where piles and inflammation are found.
FIT number quick reference
What your result usually means, by number and by how you got the test.
| Result (µg/g) | If your GP requested it because of symptoms | If it came from NHS bowel screening |
|---|---|---|
| Below 10, including “less than 4” or “not detected” | Negative. No urgent referral; you should be reviewed if symptoms carry on | Normal. Invited again in two years |
| 10 to 79 | Positive. Urgent suspected cancer referral, usually for colonoscopy | Normal, as it is below the screening cut-off |
| 80 to 119 | Positive. Urgent suspected cancer referral | Abnormal in Scotland, Wales and English screening centres that have moved to 80; normal where 120 still applies |
| 120 or more | Positive. Urgent suspected cancer referral | Abnormal in England, Scotland and Wales. Usually followed by colonoscopy |
A normal screening result does not cover symptoms. If you have symptoms, see your GP whatever your screening result says.
Where does my number sit?
Choose how you were given the test and enter your result. This explains what the number means against national cut-offs. It is not a diagnosis.
Why are there two different cut-offs?
The same test is used in two different ways, and each has its own cut-off.
| Symptomatic FIT (from your GP) | Screening FIT (NHS bowel screening) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gets it | Adults with bowel symptoms such as a change in bowel habit, abdominal pain, weight loss or anaemia | People aged 50 to 74 with no symptoms, every two years |
| Referral cut-off | 10 µg/g (NICE) | 80 µg/g in Scotland and Wales. England is moving from 120 to 80 µg/g, phased in from February 2026 with national coverage due by March 2028 |
| At or above the cut-off | Referral on a suspected cancer pathway, usually for colonoscopy | Appointment with a specialist screening practitioner, then usually colonoscopy |
| Why this cut-off | Symptoms already raise the chance of a significant cause, so a low cut-off is used | The whole healthy population is tested, so the cut-off balances finding early cancers against colonoscopy capacity |
Once England’s change is complete, about 3 in 100 people who take part in screening will be asked to have further tests, up from about 2 in 100. NHS England expects the lower cut-off to find around 600 more bowel cancers early each year, and about 2,000 more people with high-risk polyps that can be removed before they turn into cancer.
Can the same number be normal in one test and abnormal in another?
Yes. A result of 50 µg/g is well above the symptomatic cut-off of 10 but below the screening cut-off of 80. If it came from your GP because of symptoms, you would be referred. If it came from screening and you have no symptoms, it would be reported as normal.
This matters most in one direction: a normal screening result does not cover symptoms. If you have symptoms, tell your GP even if you recently had a normal screening test. NICE specifically says a symptomatic FIT should still be offered to people who have had a negative screening FIT.
Does a higher number mean cancer is more likely?
On average, yes. Higher results are more often linked to a significant finding such as cancer or a large polyp. But the number cannot tell you the cause in any one person. Piles or inflammation can give a high reading, and some cancers bleed only a little, or on and off, and can give a low one.
That is why the next step depends on whether you are over the cut-off, not on how far over it you are. Above the cut-off, the bowel needs to be looked at. Below it, your symptoms decide what happens next.
What if my result says “less than”, “not detected” or has no number?
- “Less than” a figure (for example, <4 µg/g): the blood level was below what the laboratory can measure reliably. Treat it as a very low result.
- “Not detected” or “negative”: below the cut-off used for your pathway.
- No number at all: screening letters usually say only normal or abnormal. Ask your GP if you want to know whether a value was recorded.
- “Unable to test” or “spoiled”: the sample could not be processed, for example because the tube was not dated, too much sample was used, or it took too long to arrive. You will be sent another kit. This is not an abnormal result.
What happens next, by result?
| Your result | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Symptomatic, below 10 µg/g | No urgent cancer referral. Your GP should agree a plan to review you. If symptoms carry on, change or get worse, you should be reassessed and can still be referred. See negative FIT but still have symptoms. |
| Symptomatic, 10 µg/g or more | Referral on a suspected cancer pathway, usually for colonoscopy, or CT colonography if colonoscopy is not suitable. |
| Screening, below the cut-off | Invited again in two years if you are still within the age range. See your GP sooner if you develop symptoms. |
| Screening, at or above the cut-off | Contacted by your screening centre for an assessment with a specialist screening practitioner, then usually colonoscopy. See positive FIT: what happens next. |
If you know you have piles and your result is positive, read can piles cause a positive FIT? before assuming that is the explanation.
Can I see a specialist privately about my result?
Yes. Some people want a specialist opinion on a borderline result, or a colonoscopy sooner than their local waiting time allows. Mr Papettas is a consultant colorectal surgeon and a JAG dual-accredited endoscopist, so the same consultant can assess you, perform the colonoscopy and treat what is found, including removing polyps during the same examination. Private colonoscopy at Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital can usually be arranged within days of consultation.
If you are already on an NHS pathway, keep your NHS appointments until your private plan is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal FIT result?
For a FIT requested by your GP because of symptoms, a result below 10 µg/g is considered negative. For NHS bowel screening, a result below the screening cut-off (80 µg/g in Scotland and Wales, and in England once your screening centre has moved from 120 µg/g) is reported as normal. Normal means below the cut-off, not that no blood at all was found, and ongoing symptoms still need review.
Is a FIT result of 15 bad?
If the test was requested because of symptoms, 15 µg/g is above the NICE cut-off of 10, so it leads to an urgent referral, usually for colonoscopy. Most people referred with a positive FIT do not have bowel cancer, but the source of the blood needs to be found. In the screening programme, 15 µg/g is below the cut-off and would be reported as normal.
Is a FIT result over 100 serious?
A result over 100 µg/g is positive in both symptomatic testing and screening, so the bowel needs examining promptly, usually by colonoscopy. Higher results are more often linked to a significant finding such as a large polyp or cancer, but many people with high results turn out to have a non-cancerous cause.
My FIT result was 0 or less than 4. Can I stop worrying?
A very low result is reassuring about bowel cancer at the time of the test. It does not test for conditions that cause symptoms without bleeding, such as coeliac disease or some inflammatory bowel disease. If your symptoms carry on or get worse, go back to your GP.
Why didn’t my screening letter give a number?
Screening results are usually reported only as normal or abnormal, based on the cut-off your screening centre uses. Ask your GP if you want to know whether a value was recorded.
Does England’s new screening cut-off change a result I’ve already had?
Results are assessed against the cut-off your screening centre was using when your sample was tested. Your next screening kit will be assessed against the cut-off in use at that time.
Should I stop aspirin or blood thinners before a FIT?
No. Do not stop prescribed medicines to do the test. Aspirin and blood thinners do not cause bleeding on their own, but they can make an existing source bleed more easily, so a positive result still needs investigating.
Sources
- NICE HTG690 (formerly DG56): Quantitative FIT to guide colorectal cancer pathway referral in primary care
- NHS England (January 2026): NHS to detect and prevent thousands more bowel cancers with more sensitive screening
- Bowel Cancer UK (January 2026): NHS to increase sensitivity of bowel cancer screening in England
- Cancer Research UK (January 2026): NHS England increasing bowel cancer screening FIT sensitivity
- Monahan KJ et al. Faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) in patients with signs or symptoms of suspected colorectal cancer: a joint ACPGBI/BSG guideline. Gut 2022
- GOV.UK: Bowel cancer screening kit, how to use it
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. It was written and reviewed by Mr Trif Papettas FRCS on 26 October 2026 against current NICE, NHS England and British Society of Gastroenterology guidance. Next review due October 2027. If you have new or worsening symptoms, speak to your GP or book a consultation.