References

Endoscopy
  1. Scottish quantitative faecal immunochemical test for patients with lower gastrointestinal cancers in primary care. https://www.gov.scot/publications/primary-care-guidance-use-fit-testing-patients-colorectal-symptoms/
  2. Scottish quantitative faecal immunochemical test for patients with lower gastrointestinal cancer in secondary care. https://www.gov.scot/publications/secondary-care-guidance-use-fit-testing-patients-colorectal-symptoms/
  3. Golder AM, Mshihadani A, McMillan DC et al. Route to diagnosis of colorectal cancer and association with survival within the context of a bowel screening programme. Public Health 2022; 11:53-61. 
  4. Public Health Scotland. Diagnostic Waiting Times Quarter Ending:31 December 2023 https://publichealthscotland.scot/media/25637/2024-02-27-diagnostic-report.pdf
  5. Public Health Scotland. Cancer Waiting Times 1 July to 30 September 2023. Cancer waiting times - 1 July to 30 September 2023 - Cancer waiting times - Publications - Public Health Scotland
  6. Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer 2022. Scottish referral guidelines for suspected cancer | Right Decisions
  7. Gerrard AD, Maeda Y, Miller J et al. Double faecal immunochemical testing in patients with symptoms suspicious of colorectal cancer. BJS 2023; 110:471-80.
  8. Johnstone M, MacLeod C, Digby J et al. Prevalence of repeat faecal immunochemical testing in symptomatic patients attending primary care. Colorectal Dis. 2022; 00:1-7.
  9. Astin M, Griffin T, Neal RD, Rose P, Hamilton W. The diagnostic value of symptoms for colorectal cancer in primary care: a systematic review. Br J Gen Pract. 2011 May; 61(586):e231-43. doi: 10.3399/bjgp11X572427. PMID: 21619747; PMCID: PMC3080228
  10. Digby J, Fraser CG, Clark G et al. Do risk scores improve use of faecal immunochemical testing for haemoglobin in symptomatic patients in primary care? Colorectal Dis. 2024;00:1-9.
  11. McSorley S, Digby J, Clyde D et al. Yield of colorectal cancer at colonoscopy according to faecal haemoglobin concentration in symptomatic patients referred from primary care. Colorectal Dis. 2021; 23:1615-1621.
  12. Chapman C, Bunce J, Oliver S et al. Service evaluation of faecal immunochemical testing and anaemia for risk stratification in the 2-week-wait for colorectal cancer. BJS Open 2019; 3:395-402.
  13. Johnstone M, Burton P, Kourounis G et al. Combining the quantitative faecal immunochemical test and full blood count reliably rules out colorectal cancer in a symptomatic patient referral pathway. Int J Colorectal Dis 2022; 37:457-466.
  14. Clackett W, Barclay S, Stanley A et al. The value of quantitative faecal immunochemical testing as a prioritisation tool for the endoscopic investigation of patients with iron deficiency anaemia. Frontiers in Med. 2021:doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.700753.
  15. Crooks CJ, Banerjea A, Jones J et al. Understanding colorectal cancer risk for patients in primary care: A cohort study utilising faecal immunochemochemical tests and blood results. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023; 58:443-452.
  16. Quantitative faecal immunochemical testing to guide colorectal cancer pathway referral in primary care. 24th August 2023. nice.org.uk/guidance/dg56.
  17. NICE Anaemia – iron deficiency anaemia. Revised September 2023. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/
  18. Snook J, Bhala N, Beales IL. Et al. BSG Guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia in adults. Gut 2021; 0:1-22. Doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2021-32510.
  19. NICE NG12 – Suspected Cancer Recognition and Referral Overview | Suspected cancer: recognition and referral | Guidance | NICE
  20. Lucocq J, Barron E, Holmes H, Donnelly PD, Cruickshank N. Diagnostic accuracy of quantitative faecal immunochemical test in symptomatic patients for the investigation of colorectal cancer once accounting for anaemia severity and iron deficiency. Colorectal Dis. 2025; 27:e70024.
  21. Digby J, Nobes J, Strachan JA, McCann R, Hall C, Fraser CG, Mowat C. Combining faecal haemoglobin, iron deficiency anaemia status and age can improve colorectal cancer risk prediction in patients attending primary care with bowel symptoms: a retrospective observational study. Gut. 2025 Mar 26:gutjnl-2024-334248. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2024-334248. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40139747.