Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnostics are challenging in primary care and there is a desire for reliable diagnostic aids. This population-based cohort study of 15 789 patients aged ≥18 years showed that four brands of qualitative faecal immunochemical tests (FITs) requested by primary care physicians in symptomatic patients had sensitivities of 81.6%–100%, positive predictive values of 4.7%–8.1%, and negative predictive values of 99.5%–100% for CRC. The findings of either a positive FIT or anaemia increased sensitivities to 88.9%–100%. FITs seem to be useful as rule-in tests for further investigation, whereas a negative FIT and no anaemia yielded a low risk of CRC. |