Better2Know Cancer screening

Bowel Cancer Test

This test checks a stool sample for hidden blood, a marker that can indicate bowel abnormalities. It suits people with possible bleeding symptoms or anyone wanting a bowel health check via a clinic or nurse visit.

Sample
Stool
Collection
Stool sample at clinic or nurse visit
Results in
2 days
Biomarkers
1
Tests for
  • Bowel Cancer Marker

Test specifications

Provider
Better2Know
Sample type
stool
Collection method
stool sample at clinic or nurse visit
Turnaround time
2 days
Biomarkers tested
1
At-home test
No
Doctor reviewed
No
Gender focus
Both

What's tested

1 biomarker as listed by Better2Know.

  • Bowel Cancer Marker

About this test

This test analyses a stool sample using a quantitative faecal immunochemical test (qFIT), which detects small amounts of blood in your stool that would not otherwise be visible. Hidden blood can be a sign of a range of bowel conditions, from haemorrhoids and polyps to more serious causes, so the test is commonly used by people with possible bleeding symptoms or anyone wanting a general bowel health check.

This test carries a notably high price for what it tests: at £135, it sits 80% above the £75 median for the 19 cancer screening tests we track, which is the main reason its value for money score is low despite otherwise strong marks. Clinically, it counts as a single marker, placing it around the middle of the cancer screening tests we track for depth.

It scores very well for collection convenience and clarity, since the sample type, what is tested and the turnaround are all clearly published, and results come back within two days. It scores lower on results and follow-up because a doctor does not review the outcome as standard; the provider says a positive result should be followed up with a doctor, and consultations can be arranged separately.

Who is it for?

This suits you if you have noticed symptoms that could indicate bleeding, such as blood in your stool, or if you are over 60 and want a bowel health check via a clinic or nurse visit rather than at home. A positive result does not mean you have cancer; conditions such as haemorrhoids, ulcers or polyps can also cause it, and further tests would be needed to find the cause.

This version requires a clinic appointment or nurse visit rather than home collection, and is priced well above the typical rate for the cancer screening tests we track, so it's worth weighing the cost against how much you value having the sample taken for you rather than collecting it yourself.

How it works

A stool sample is collected at a clinic or during a nurse visit and sent to Better2Know's laboratory, where it is analysed using a quantitative faecal immunochemical test (qFIT) for hidden blood. Results are ready within two days of the sample arriving, and Better2Know notifies you online or by phone, email or text; the provider does not state that a doctor reviews the results as standard, though it recommends seeing a doctor if your result is positive.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Detects hidden blood in stool that would not otherwise be visible.
  • Results are ready within two days of the sample reaching the lab.
  • Clearly published sample type, marker and turnaround before you book.
  • Sample can be taken during a nurse visit if you would rather avoid a clinic trip.

Cons

  • Priced 80% above the £75 median for the cancer screening tests we track.
  • Requires a clinic appointment or nurse visit rather than home collection.
  • Results are not reviewed by a doctor as standard.

Our editorial score

Compare Health Test Score Bowel screening test priced well above typical
Editorial confidence: 9.0/10

The Bowel Cancer Test is a £135 stool test for hidden blood, collected at a clinic or during a nurse visit, and commonly used to look into bleeding symptoms or general bowel health. It prices 80% above the £75 median for the cancer screening tests we track, making it one of the pricier options in that category. Results are back within two days, though a doctor does not review them as standard.

Score breakdown

  • Clarity and documentation 9.0/10

    The listing publishes a detailed description, the full biomarker list, a stated turnaround, clear collection options, the sample type; it does not state what the report looks like.

  • Clinical depth 6.4/10

    1 biomarkers, placing it in the 32nd percentile of cancer screening tests we track.

  • Collection convenience 6.0/10

    A stool sample taken at a clinic; a home nurse visit is offered; results in around 2 days, well ahead of the cancer screening norm of 5.

  • Results and follow-up 3.0/10

    Results are not doctor-reviewed and no consultation is included; the provider does not describe the report format.

  • Trust signals 6.5/10

    Trustpilot 4.2 from 775 reviews; CQC registered; trading 18+ years.

  • Value for money 2.5/10

    £135.00 against a median of £75.00 for the 19 similarly sized cancer screening tests we track (+80%).

Calculated 13 September 2026 from the facts we hold about this test and provider, using our published scoring formula. Scores are not hand-edited.

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Selph

qFIT Bowel Cancer Screening Test

Priced close to the FIT test group median

A stool test using the qFIT method to measure blood in a stool sample, giving a numerical result rather than a simple positive or negative. Suited to adults wanting to check a common early indicator of possible bowel cancer risk.

  • At-home test
8.1 / 10
£59.00
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