guidelines

lower gi symptoms: fit triage & colorectal cancer referral (nice dg56 + ng12)

a primary-care pathway for using fit (faecal immunochemical testing) to guide colorectal cancer pathway referral, aligned with nice dg56 and ng12 safety-netting.

last reviewed: 2026-02-13
based on: NICE DG56 (published 24 Aug 2023) + NICE NG12 (updated 12 Jan 2026)
reviewer: Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP
view official NICE source

Safety netting (non-negotiable)

Frequently asked questions

Is FIT a “rule out” test for colorectal cancer?
No. FIT reduces probability when <10, but NG12 pathways and clinical judgement still apply. Persistent or high-risk features require escalation regardless of FIT.
What’s the referral threshold in DG56?
DG56 uses a FIT threshold of 10 micrograms haemoglobin per gram of faeces to guide colorectal cancer pathway referral.

Transparency

This page is an educational, clinician-written summary of publicly available NICE guidance intended for trained healthcare professionals. It uses original wording (not copied text) and should be used alongside the full NICE source, local pathways, and clinical judgement. Doses provided are for general reference; always check the BNF/SPC.