This test detects tiny amounts of blood in the feces, a symptom of colorectal cancer. Though the test is highly accurate at confirming the presence of blood, it does not confirm the presence of cancer. That's because many other factors may be responsible for traces of blood in the stool. On the other hand, some cancers bleed only intermittently, so a negative test doesn't necessarily mean cancer isn't present. If you think you're at risk for colorectal cancer, talk to your doctor about taking a home test.
Blood is sent to a laboratory and results are available a week later.
Those who test positive are offered counseling over the telephone. These tests are confidential and about as accurate as those given in a doctor's office. The shortcoming is that there's no guarantee that they'll learn about HIV prevention the way they would if they had the test in their doctors' offices. There are also tests for determining illicit drug use and paternity, and for monitoring glucose levels in people with diabetes and high blood pressure in those with hypertension. It's up to you to decide if a self-test is right for you.