The crucial role of the FIT test kit in bowel cancer screening programmes
In the UK there is an increasing focus on cancer prevention and early diagnosis initiatives. This is due to the rapidly increasing death rates as a result of cancer based diseases as the figures hit 904,000 deaths worldwide in 2022.
Bowel cancer screening programmes are a high priority to ensure high risk individuals and patients over the age of 54 have an accessible pathway to regular testing. Offered to people aged between 54 to 74 every two years as part of the NHS screening programme, and to people with a family history of bowel cancer and other conditions, frequent screening can help to identify the cancer before symptoms start.
The bowel cancer screening programme is made up of a series of stages including invitation to participate, FIT testing, screening result and follow up colonoscopy procedures if necessary.
RDi are assembly and fulfilment specialists of the FIT test kit, a tool that has transformed the way that bowel screening is conducted. In this blog we will delve into the crucial role of the FIT test kit in bowel cancer screening programmes and discuss everything you need to know about 21st century screening services.
The evolution of bowel cancer screening programmes
Traditionally, bowel cancer was only tested for after symptoms appeared. Organised screening and proactive testing of even asymptomatic was nearly impossible to achieve with medical practices available at the time.
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the Guaiac-based faecal occult blood test (gFOBT) was the common method for national bowel cancer screening programmes. Notable limitations were experienced during screening with dietary and medication factors leading to false positives and negatives.
gFOBT detected blood in stool using the chemical substance guaiac. Originally the test was often conducted at the clinic as a diagnostic method rather than a pre-emptive screening tool. The gFOBT did evolve into an at-home testing method as healthcare has continued to build on accessibility over the years, however, a new method with fewer drawbacks was soon on the horizon.
Faecal immunochemical tests emerged as better testing method in the UK during June 2019, however other countries including Japan, Australia and the US had already begun to adopt and integrate the method into their bowel cancer screening programs in the mid-2010s at which point the FIT revolution had begun.
Now, the FIT test is a driving force in preventative cancer screening and has led to the decommissioning of bowel scope screening in 2022. All eyes are on FIT testing as a transformative tool in at-home screening which continues to enable access to a much broader pool of end-users and patients, it has also helped reduce the screening age since resource is less constrained.
Understanding the capabilities of the FIT test kit
The UKs bowel cancer screening programme is one of 11 NHS population screenings available. Born out of a collaborative development approach across the Department of Health, NHS England, Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK, members of the public and other representatives, the FIT test was developed as a more sensitive and advantageous method to gFOBT.
After running the bowel cancer screening programme for 10 years, the NHS moved over to FIT as the primary screening test used to detect and prevent cancers. This was after a trial of FIT had showed a 7% uptake in participation rates across men, ethnic minorities and people facing socio-economic difficulties. Benefits of FIT include:
- An easier-to-use design
- Improved sensitivity
- Requires one sample rather than the pre-historic three samples in gFOBT
- Increased reliability of detection
- Innovative IFUs and guidance for successful completion
- Scalable solution for larger cohorts
The reason FIT testing is important, is because it facilitates the earliest detection of precancerous polyps which significantly improves treatment outcomes and leads to higher survival rates.
The capability FIT has to help a variety of individuals to take part in screening is second to none, since it was introduced to NHS England’s programme in April 2019, uptake has increased from 59% to 65%!
All of this reinforces the power that FIT testing has on public health, which is why the proper assembly and distribution of FIT test kits is at the core of RDi’s priorities. We work closely alongside NHS England to distribute FIT test kits. With this, we have seen first-hand which factors are essential in ensuring that the FIT testing can continue to deliver on the benefits we have already seen across the bowel cancer screening programme.
Critical factors of FIT test kit supply and demand
The supply of FIT testing is paramount to successful screening. With many moving parts and a number of obstacles to overcome in terms of distribution, reception and onward journeys, there is many critical factors that impact successful and reliable screening services. As a kitting provider, we have detailed some of the clinical and logistical aspects of ensuring FIT test kits can play their crucial role in bowel cancer screening:
Compliant kit design
Kits must be regulatory compliant and have the proper CA marketing to highlight certification with regulatory and quality standards. At RDi our FIT test kits are all MHRA registered, and CA marked, they also encompass our unique safeTFIT return envelope from our partner brand RDI products.
Specifically designed to meet the needs of UN3373 Category B Biological Packaging, the SafeTFIT is tailored for NHS requirements for bowel cancer screening. The FIT return envelope is included within all our fully assembled FIT test kits, with our UK headquarters producing 36,000 per day.
Our FIT test kit production line is set to produce large-scale volumes, with on-demand supply and distribution capabilities that ensure high quality standards. Kits and packaging components can be customised to meet your needs as well as outer sleeves, all whilst remaining compliant.
Procurement and fulfilment
FIT kitting providers must have the right capabilities in house to meet the demands of the growing screening programme. NHS England invite individuals for screening every two years as a preventative and pre-emptive step in public health.
A healthcare supply chain must be reliable and can withstand the challenges experienced by public and private organisations in terms of resource. Reliable kitting and fulfilment is made simple with RDi, as we already produce a number of FIT test kits everyday as part of the NHS screening demand.
Our automated processes are easily scaled to meet your demands and offer no risk to delays or quality with our complete end-to-end production outsourcing. We ensure timely delivery, fully assembled kits and traceable batch consistency at a granular level.
Distribution, logistics and processing pathways
RDi is home to a unique data and technology led kitting solution. We are the first of our kind to utilise data and automation to create a completely traceable assembly of individual kits as well as post-distribution insights.
Through digital transformation we can track and trace each patients unique kit ID and ensure their personal FIT test kit is properly assembled. Through camera verification we build a traceable and auditable picture of each patient’s kit, pausing production should any patient ID’s not match.
A barcoded approach means that we can offer post-issuance insights and data to our partners and clients. This allows for kitting trends to feed into logistical decision making. Our fulfilment software creates a complete audit trail, capturing imagery during assembly along with data and times stamps along with an onward tracked pathway through the healthcare screening service. We combine actions against kits with post-market activity to help you achieve the very best output.
Working alongside Bowel Cancer Screening Programmes
Successful fulfilment of FIT test kits is proven at RDi as we already serve as a partner of the NHS screening programme and look to deliver across the entire FIT test kit landscape. Whether you’re looking at FIT testing from a clinical, operational or public health lens, we recognise the various critical aspects of delivering on the demand of FIT testing.
We can help you navigate the common hurdles of compliant kitting and provide a series of additional benefits which are unique to our sophisticated software solution. We manage inventory, consumables, packaging stock and products, assembly, fulfilment, distribution and reception so that you don’t have to.
Unlock the power of our kitting solutions and ensure that your FIT test kits play their crucial role in screening individuals for bowel cancer.
Only around two in 100 people who complete a FIT test kit will require further testing.
For those two people, a FIT test kit can be lifesaving, RDi are here to help you get a complete and compliant kit to their door.
