Objective: Roll-out of population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with faecal immunochemical test (FIT) is limited by availability of further investigations, particularly colonoscopy and examination of excised lesions. Our objective was to assess whether variation in number of faecal samples and threshold adjustment can optimise resource utilisation and CRC detection rate.
Methods:
Three different screening strategies were compared for the same FIT threshold using a quantitative FIT system: one FIT, positive when
Results:
In our setting, Region of Murcia, south of Spain (not fully rolled out screening programme), changing the usual strategy of two FIT, positive when either to positive when the mean was
Conclusions: In a population-based CRC screening programme, smart use of number of FITs and positivity threshold can increase population invited and CRC detection without increasing the number of colonoscopies and pathological examinations needed.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; colorectal neoplasia; faecal haemoglobin; faecal immunochemical test; screening.