80% of people haven’t heard of qFIT

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK [1], yet one of the key tests used to spot it early still flies under the radar for most people.

New data from our 2025 Annual Health Survey [2] shows that awareness of bowel health, screening, and personal risk remains stubbornly low. And while only a small proportion of people go on to need further investigation, understanding the signs (and the tests available) could make a life-changing difference.

The stat that stopped us scrolling

When asked about qFIT awareness, 79.6% of people said they had never heard of the test before using it.

That’s nearly four in five people unfamiliar with a test now central to bowel cancer screening in the UK.

Awareness was higher among women (23.4%) than men (15.9%), which is a familiar pattern that reflects wider trends in health screening engagement.

In this blog, we talk through:

• What is a qFIT test and how does it work?
• The warning signs for bowel health
• Getting more fibre in your diet
• Why FIT levels vary across the UK
• How to understand your bowel cancer risk

 

What is a qFIT test and how does it work?

 

The qFIT test (short for quantitative faecal immunochemical test) is a simple at-home check for tiny traces of blood in your stool that you wouldn’t notice yourself. It measures the level of a protein called haemoglobin, which is found in blood.

Hidden blood can sometimes be an early sign of bowel problems, like colorectal cancer. The test is quick, easy, and reliable and is similar to the one used in the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.

Find out everything you need to know about this at-home bowel cancer screening test in our blog.

So, how many people actually need further investigation?

Looking across all Medichecks qFIT results and applying NHS symptom-based and regional thresholds, 1.9% of people (around 1 in 50) would be recommended for further investigation.

That percentage might sound small, but it becomes more significant when symptoms are involved.

Among people reporting symptoms, 4.5% had results above the threshold. That’s almost one in 20.

In other words: most people get reassurance, but for a minority, testing helps flag the need to look more closely. And earlier is always better.

What are the symptoms something's off with bowel health?

 

The most reported symptoms among qFIT testers were:

• Change in bowel habits (19%)
• Abdominal pain or a lump (9%)
• Blood when opening bowels (5%)

Other symptoms reported included anaemia, unexplained weight loss, and lumps in the back passage.

These symptoms don’t automatically mean cancer, but they do mean it’s worth checking things out, especially if they’re new, persistent, or getting worse.

Many of us underestimate our bowel cancer risk

When asked about lifetime risk, 41.2% of people underestimated their chances of developing bowel cancer.

The reality? Lifetime risk is around one in 20.

That disconnect matters. If we assume something probably won’t happen, we’re less likely to act on symptoms, engage with screening, or prioritise gut health until something forces the issue.

 

Getting more fibre in your diet

Fibre: everyone’s heard of it, few feel they get enough

Diet plays a major role in bowel health, and fibre is one of its unsung heroes. But not getting enough fibre is one of the biggest risk factors for the disease. 

In fact, eating too little fibre causes 28 in 100 bowel cancers (28%) in the UK [3]. 

We found a similar pattern in our Annual Survey as 22.4% of people told us they don’t feel they’re eating enough fibre.

So how much fibre should we be eating? 

The Association of UK Dieticians [4] recommends that adults eat around 30g of dietary fibre each day. However, their latest figures suggest that in the UK, the average fibre intake for adults is 18g, only 60% of what it should be. 

If your diet relies heavily on quick lunches, ultra-processed snacks, or whatever’s easiest, you’re not alone. But small changes (like more wholegrains, beans, fruit, and veg) can make a real difference over time.

There are many ways you can increase your fibre intake. Trying adding:

• Fruit, nuts, and seeds to breakfast cereal
• Extra vegetables and pulses, such as lentils, into sauces for bolognese, curry, and chilli
• Chunky peanut butter to some apple slices or celery sticks

The Mediterranean diet is full of fibre as it focuses on plant-based foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Read our Mediterranean diet blog for more on this. 

Why FIT levels vary across the UK (and why it's confusing)

 

One of the most misunderstood aspects of bowel screening is why test thresholds differ depending on where you live.

Asymptomatic screening thresholds

• Scotland and Wales: 80 µg Hb/g
• England and Northern Ireland: 120 µg Hb/g

England is currently piloting a reduction from 120 to 80 µg/g across several early adopter sites.

Different thresholds in different areas largely reflect local service capacity and resource availability, rather than differences in someone's risk. That means where you live can affect whether you're referred for follow-up. 

If you have symptoms the bar is much lower. For symptomatic individuals, any result above 10 µg Hb/g warrants further investigation.

Why awareness really matters

Most people who take a qFIT test won’t need further investigation.

The more important message is whether the people who might (and know about the test) recognise the signs early enough to act.

Our data shows:

• Awareness of qFIT is low
• Many people underestimate bowel cancer risk
• Symptoms are common, but often normalised or ignored

A little more awareness could mean earlier testing, faster follow-up, and better outcomes.

And if nothing else, it might prompt more of us to start putting bowel health firmly at the top of the to-do list.

 

How to understand your bowel cancer risk

 

Bowel health isn't just something to think about when you're older, rates of bowel cancer are increasing among younger adults too.  

Your gut does a lot for you. Paying attention to it, whether that’s through diet, symptom awareness, or testing, is one of the simplest ways to look after your long-term health.

And if you’ve never heard of qFIT before now? You’re not alone. But now you know, and that’s a good place to start.

 

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References:

1. Bowel Cancer UK (n.d.) Bowel cancer. Available at: https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/bowel-cancer/ (Accessed: 15 December 2025).
2. 940 people surveyed in November 2024.
3. Cancer Research UK (2025) Risks and causes of bowel cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/bowel-cancer/risks-causes#diet (Accessed: 15 December 2025).
4. British Dietetic Association (n.d.) Fibre. Available at: www.bda.uk.com/resource/fibre.html (Accessed: 15 December 2025).