What is bowel cancer screening?
Bowel cancer screening detects early signs of bowel cancer in individuals who do not yet show symptoms. The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) invites eligible Australians aged 45 to 74 to screen for bowel cancer using a simple at-home test called an immunochemical faecal occult blood test (iFOBT). The test is free for people aged 45 to 74 and can be done completely hygienically.
This life saving process is quick, simple, and completed at home.
Why do the bowel cancer screening test?
Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia. It affects men and women and is the second leading cause of cancer death. Millions of Australians screen for the disease every year.
As you age, your chance of developing bowel cancer rises. Bowel cancer risk increases significantly after that the age of 45.
Bowel cancer screening can find bowel cancers early, before symptoms develop, significantly increasing the chance of successful treatment.
Regular bowel cancer screening is important as bowel cancer can occur without obvious symptoms or any family history. With regular bowel cancer screening, changes or abnormalities in the bowel can be identified, including the presence of polyps, which can eventually develop into cancer if left untreated.

Who is eligible for National Bowel Cancer Screening Program?
You are eligible to do the free screening test every two years if you:
- are aged between 45 and 74
- have a Medicare card and entitlement type of either Australian citizen, permanent migrant or register as a Department of Veteran Affairs customer
- have an Australian mailing address.
If you are aged 45 to 49, you can request your first free kit at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701, or alternatively you can speak to your doctor or health care professional about getting a kit. Your next kit will automatically be mailed every two years after your screening test is completed.
People aged 50 to 74 will automatically receive their free kit in the mail every two years. If you have lost or misplaced your kit, you can request a replacement kit at www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest or by calling the National Cancer Screening Register on 1800 627 701. Alternatively, you can speak to your doctor or health care professional about getting a kit.
How does the bowel cancer screening test work?
The bowel cancer screening test is easy to use and can be completed at home. You need to take a small sample from two separate bowel movements. This means you’ll need to go to the toilet twice to poo and take a sample each time. Collect the two samples as close together as you can. This screening test looks for traces of blood in each sample which are invisible to the naked eye and could be a sign of bowel cancer.

What’s included in the bowel cancer home screening kit?
The mail out kit has everything you need to do the test in your home, including:
- detailed instructions
- 2 X flushable toilet liners
- 2 X collection tubes and sticks
- 1 X sanitary zip lock bag
- 1 X reply-paid envelope
- 1 X participant details form
Once completed, place your labelled collection tubes in the provided sanitary zip lock bag and, along with your filled-out participant details form, place into the reply-paid envelope. A pathology laboratory will then analyse your sample and check for blood in your poo.