NHS to increase sensitivity of bowel cancer screening in England
Monday 26 January 2026
Today NHS England has announced that it will lower the threshold at which home-screening kits for bowel cancer will trigger a referral for further testing.
The NHS estimates that this change will lead to 35% more screening colonoscopies each year in England to help diagnose, rule out or even prevent bowel cancer.
It is estimated this will detect around 600 additional bowel cancers early each year in England – around an 11% increase – and identify 2,000 more people with high-risk polyps that can be removed before they turn cancerous.
From next month, the level at which a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) in England will lead to further investigations will lower from 120 micrograms of blood per gram of poo (µg/g) down to 80 µg/g.
This will bring screening services in England in line with Scotland and Wales, which already use the lower threshold.
The NHS will now roll out the lower threshold carefully across England, with national coverage set to be completed by 2028.
Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, says: “This is great news for people living in England. This change marks an important moment for bowel cancer screening in the country.
“Increasing the sensitivity of the test means more cancers will be prevented and found earlier, saving more lives from the UK’s fourth most common cancer.
“This change may put extra pressure on already overstretched service, leading to more people waiting for tests that could either confirm a diagnosis or put their minds at rest. Therefore, it’s vital that staff across the screening pathway are fully supported and resourced to meet the extra demand for colonoscopy services.”
In addition, from next month, people who have taken part in bowel cancer screening before will begin receiving their alerts through the NHS App. The alert lets people know what to expect, helping them prepare for their home testing kit arriving in the post and making it easier to complete the test promptly.
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