At-home Colon Cancer Test - Primary Health

At-home Colorectal Cancer Test Kit

At-home test kit

Convenient and noninvasive screening test that checks for the presence of blood in the stool

FSA/HSA eligible

$55

FSA/HSA eligible

Currently available in 38 states.

What you get:

At-home test kit
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Tests for

Colorectal cancer

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Recommended for

People 20 years and older, especially for those with additional risk factors

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Collection method

Stool sample: A small sample of stool (poop) is collected

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Treatment

Results of concern require follow up from a licensed healthcare provider

At-home test kit lab in a box icon

Reasons to take an at-home Colorectal Cancer test

Symptoms

Symptoms may include changes in bowel movements, blood in stool, abdominal pain/discomfort, weakness and fatigue.

Why test?

  • Early detection of colorectal cancer gives the best chance at successful treatment and recovery.
  • Colorectal screenings can help identify changes in the body that may indicate a risk for developing cancer
Colon Cancer FAQs

Questions and Answers about Colorectal Cancer

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon and rectum, which are parts of the large intestine of the digestive system. Colorectal cancer may start in either the colon or the rectum. Most times, colorectal cancers start as polyps, which are growths on the inner lining of the colon or rectum.

Why screen for colorectal cancer?

Many people may not recognize symptoms of colorectal cancer or ignore them. Screening is a reliable way to detect cancer at an early stage, when it is most treatable.

What kind of test does Primary.Medical offer to screen for colorectal cancer?

Primary.Medical’s colorectal cancer screening kit is an at-home FIT (fecal immunochemical test) that detects small amounts of blood in the stool (poop), which may be an early warning sign of colorectal cancer.

It’s important to note that FIT is not a diagnosis, but rather a valuable tool to help with early detection. If you receive a positive result from a FIT test, it does not necessarily mean that you have colorectal cancer, but it is a sign that you should speak with your doctor about additional testing and support.

Who should use Primary.Medical’s Colorectal Cancer screening kit?

Primary.Medical’s colorectal cancer screening kit is designed for people 20 years and older. Research is finding that more young adults in their 20s and 30s are getting diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

It is a great for men and women as young as 20 years old who:

  • Have never screened for colorectal cancer before
  • Have been told by their doctor to get a colorectal cancer screening
  • Are at higher risk of colorectal cancer because of having a chronic inflammatory digestive disease
  • Are part of a family that has a history of colorectal cancer
  • Are concerned about their colorectal cancer risk

How do I collect a stool (poop) sample?

The Primary.Medical colorectal cancer screening kit comes with everything you need to get a stool sample, including instructions on how to collect a sample and send back your kit. The colorectal cancer screening kit includes a biodegradable pad you place on your toilet seat so you can easily collect the sample, so no fishing required.

What do I need to do to prepare for a FIT test?

No preparation is needed to do a FIT test. Your test kit has everything you need.

Can I do a FIT test while on my period?

No, if you are menstruating, or having your period, wait until it is over to take the FIT test.

Since the FIT test looks for blood in your stool, it is important that you do not get blood from other places in your body. Otherwise, the test may incorrectly give you a positive result.

Can I do a FIT test if I have hemorrhoids?

If you have hemorrhoids that are actively bleeding, then do not take the FIT test. Talk to your doctor or our clinical staff about when to test.

How often should I get screened for colorectal cancer?

Doctors recommend using a FIT test to screen for colorectal cancer once a year. Some people may need to be screened more often. Talk to your doctor or our clinical staff about how often you should get screened.

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Symptoms include changes in your bathroom habits, such as diarrhea or constipation. Some people may have ongoing stomach cramps, pain, or gas and feel weak and tired. Another symptom is feeling like you didn’t empty your bowels completely even though you went to the bathroom. People may also see red blood in their poop or black stools.

Many people may ignore these symptoms or think it is something else, so it is important to get screened.

How can I protect myself from colorectal cancer?

The most important way to protect yourself from colorectal cancer is to get screened.

You may also:

  • Eat a variety of nourishing foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and grains
  • Regularly move your body or exercise
    Limit or avoid alcohol
  • Stop smoking, vaping, and using tobacco. And don’t start using these in the first place

Do I have to be 40 or older to take this test?

No, you do not need to wait until you are 40 to take this test. Primary.Medical’s colorectal cancer screening kit is approved for people as young as 20 years old.

What is the difference between a FIT test and a colonoscopy?

A FIT test (fecal immunochemical test) is a test to pick up blood in stool (poop), which may be an early sign of colorectal cancer.

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure where a doctor checks the colon for abnormal growths by sticking a long thin tube with a tiny light and a camera inside of the anus and up into the rectum and colon. The doctor may remove these growths during the procedure. People need to prepare for a colonoscopy over a few days, since they need to completely empty their bowels.

Have more questions?

Contact us at support@primary.health

At-home test kit video tutorial

How to use your Colorectal Cancer Kit

Colorectal cancer test kit video

Instructions

Follow these instructions to learn more about our product:

Clinical Leadership

Prior to joining Primary.Health as a Medical Director Consultant, Aditya Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH has been at Fenway Health since 2014, first as a Primary Care Physician and as a Lead Physician since 2016. Dr. Chandrasekhar earned his MD from Grant Medical College in Mumbai, India and his MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Chandrasekhar completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is a Linde Fellow in Primary Care Leadership at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chandrasekhar’s areas of clinical interest include LGBTQIA+ health and HIV care.
Aditya Chandrasekhar, MD, MPH, FACP

Medical Director

Full Bio
Rafid Fadul, MD, MBA is a physician and health tech executive who is passionate about leveraging technology for the benefit of the masses. He is triple board certified (internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care). He completed his medicine training at Georgetown University while doing his MBA at Johns Hopkins, followed by training in pulmonary/critical care at the Cleveland Clinic. He has published extensively in clinical medicine, health economics, and digital health, and has presented nationally and internationally on the same. Dr. Fadul also serves on the Board of Directors for MedWish International and leads medical missions overseas.
Rafid Fadul, MD, MBA

Primary.Health Medical CEO and Clinical Advisor

Full Bio
Katie Kowals is a highly experienced multi-state Registered Nurse with over a decade of expertise in Emergency Room medicine and trauma services. With a deep passion for leveraging innovation and technology to provide high-quality healthcare to all, Katie transitioned from the bedside to become a pioneer in tele-health nursing. Drawing on her extensive background in Emergency medicine and community health, Katie brings a wide range of skills to the tele-health space, including patient acuity prioritization, STI testing and counseling, women’s health, and above all, patient safety practices. Through her work, Katie is committed to expanding access to healthcare and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities.
Katie Kowals, RN, BSN

Registered Nurse

Full Bio
FAQ

General Questions

Testing

When will my test kit arrive?

You should expect to receive your test kit within 1-5 business days. Once your package has shipped, you will receive a confirmation email with tracking information.

When will I get my results?

Once we receive your samples, the laboratory will test them and you will receive your results within 5 days. You can access your results online through our secure portal using the Prmary.Health app or the Primary.Health website.

What happens if I test positive?

If you test positive and notify us that you would like to receive a call back from our clinical team, you will receive your call after your results come in. However, if you have not selected to receive a call, you will receive your results via the selected method of contact. At that time, our clinical team will review next steps for treatment.

Can I get a refund for any reason?

We cannot provide a refund after the test kit has shipped. If you have additional questions, please contact us at support@primary.health.

Can I cancel my order?

If your kit has already shipped, we unfortunately cannot cancel your order. If you need additional help, please contact support@primary.health.

I entered the wrong shipping information. What should I do?

If you made a mistake and entered the wrong contact information, please contact support@primary.health.

I didn’t receive my kit. What should I do?

If you did not receive your test kit, please support@primary.health.

I received the wrong kit. What should I do?

If you did not receive your test kit, please support@primary.health.

When should I take the test and return it?

You should take the test and mail it back as soon as you get it. If you are collecting a sample using a vaginal swab or are doing a FIT (fecal immunochemical test) and are on your period, please wait until your period is over before collecting a sample.

Can someone else order a test for me?

The test results will be connected to the account that you create to receive a test kit. So if someone else orders the kit for you and puts their name on the account, and then you take the test, your test results will be connected to their name. We can only communicate with the person whose name is connected to the account.

If you are an authorized representative of someone and are ordering a kit for the person you represent, please contact us at support@primary.health.

I made a mistake getting a sample for my test. Can I get a new test?

Please contact us at support@primary.health if you have questions about your test kit.

How is my privacy protected?

Primary’s platform is HITRUST-certified and HIPAA-compliant, meaning that the platform meets the highest security standards for your data.

Can I get a pregnancy test through Primary.Medical?

At this time you cannot get a pregnancy test through Primary.Medical. Note that the at-home test kits do not test for pregnancy.

Even though we are not offering pregnancy tests at this time, at-home pregnancy tests, also known as over-the-counter pregnancy tests, are an easy and accurate way to find out if you’re pregnant. They are just as effective as getting a pregnancy test in a clinic.

Clinical follow-up

Does my primary care provider need to give the clinical team any of my medical information?

No, your primary care provider does not need to give the clinical team any information. The clinical team will ask you questions about your medical history.

I use a different name than my government name. Do I need to give my government name to get a test or to schedule with the clinical team?

If you use a different name than your government name, please let us know. We will need to verify your identity with your government name so you can consent for treatment.

Can the clinical team send my positive test results to my primary health provider (PCP)?

The clinical team cannot send positive test results to your PCP, but you may show your results to your PCP.

Insurance

Does Primary.Medical accept insurance?

At this time, Primary.Medical does not accept insurance for at-home tests. You must pay the full price of the test. Primary.Medical will not bill your insurance for the test.

Can I submit a bill to my insurance for reimbursement?

Check with your insurance and ask them about reimbursement for self-pay services.