Variation in Performance of Fecal Immunochemical Tests

Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) was recently recommended to replace older guaiac-based fecal occult blood testing (e.g., Hemoccult II) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Studies have shown FIT’s superior sensitivity and specificity for CRC and advanced adenomas, compared with older guaiac-based tests (JW Gastroenterol May 25 2007). However, few studies have compared the available fecal immunochemical tests head-to-head.

This study involved 1319 patients (mean age, 63) at average risk for CRC who underwent screening colonoscopy at 20 gastroenterology practices in Germany. Prior to undergoing colonoscopy, they were tested with five different fecal immunochemical tests (BioNexia FOBplus, PreventID CC, immoCARE-C, FOB advanced, and QuickV…