A positive result on a home stool test is a reason for a follow-up, not a diagnosis. MedlinePlus explains that the fecal immunochemical test, or FIT, screens for hidden blood in stool, which can be an early sign of colon cancer, but the test itself does not diagnose cancer.

If the result comes back positive, MedlinePlus says your provider will want to perform other tests, usually including a colonoscopy. Both FIT and other screenings can catch colon cancer early, when it is easier to treat. A normal result means no blood was found, though because colon cancers do not always bleed, you may need to repeat the test a few times to confirm.

The test is done at home with a kit. Most kits have you brush the surface of the stool, touch the brush to a marked space on a test card and send the sample to a lab, and your provider may ask for more than one sample. No preparation is needed, and medicines and food do not interfere with the result, which MedlinePlus says makes FIT more accurate with fewer false positives than other tests. It is not as accurate as colonoscopy, though, because it has more false negatives.

MedlinePlus says adults ages 45 to 75 should be screened for colorectal cancer, and FIT is one of several options, along with a stool DNA test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, CT colonography and colonoscopy. There are no risks from using the FIT. Talk with your provider about which screening fits you and when.