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  1. Right Decisions
  2. Endoscopy
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  4. Quantitative Faecal Immunochemical Testing (qFIT) for patients with new lower gastrointestinal symptoms
  5. Background

Background

Endoscopy

By 2021, qFIT had been implemented in all Scottish Health Boards. Significant progress has been made in appropriately prioritising endoscopy access. Applying the current Scottish qFIT1,2 and Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer6 up to 78% of colonoscopies could be avoided. However, even in those Boards where adherence to guidance is high, meeting the current demand is challenging.

The current referral pathway, indications for qFIT, and thresholds for investigation for patients with new colorectal symptoms have been reviewed. The key focus areas were:

 

  1. Indications for qFIT testing
  2. qFIT threshold for lower gastrointestinal USC referral
  3. qFIT threshold for lower gastrointestinal investigation in the presence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA)
  4. qFIT threshold for non-USC lower gastrointestinal investigation

 

This clinical consensus document replaces Scotland’s qFIT guidance for primary and secondary care.1,2

This consensus document applies to patients presenting to primary or secondary care with lower gastrointestinal symptoms in Scotland.