Ambient temperature and FIT performance in the Emilia-Romagna colorectal cancer screening programme

Abstract

Ambient temperatures can affect screening performance. Continued monitoring is needed to verify the effect of introducing FIT tubes with a new buffer, which should guarantee a higher stability of haemoglobin.

Optimizing the Quality of Colorectal Cancer Screening Worldwide

“…Recent studies [159][160][161] confirmed findings from earlier studies [162][163][164] that positive results of FIT testing decrease in warmer months and might affect lesion detection. Programs are not currently considering season in FIT distribution, but do emphasize the importance of returning samples quickly.…”

Implementation of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis to the specimens flow in a population-based colorectal cancer screening programme using immunochemical faecal occult blood tests: a quality improvement project in the Milan colorectal cancer screening programme

“…A ’degraded specimen’ may result from two different causes: (A) the environmental temperatures are inadequate for preservation of the specimen (ie, at the user’s home, in the pharmacy, during transport in the wholesaler’s vehicle or in the laboratory); and/or (B) the period of time between sampling and the laboratory’s quantitative analysis is too long. Both phenomena may lead to a reduction in the concentration of haemoglobin in the sample, 17 and quantitative results that are above the cut-off may therefore go below instead (false-negative result). The lack of a procedure linking the sampling tube code to the user’s ID, either when the kit is delivered to the pharmacy or when it is collected (‘anonymous specimen’), or loss of the specimen after it is collected from the pharmacy or while in the wholesaler’s vehicle (‘lost specimen’), may also result in a failure to refer positive subjects to assessment.…”

“…This study considered the risks relating to the specimen’s route without taking into account the effect of other programme procedures on the population, such as the selection of the test type and cut-off, 21 as well as the different characteristics of the various tests, such as varying sensitivity to high ambient temperatures. 17 22 Although these issues fall outside the scope of this study, they have to be taken into account in a comprehensive assessment of the risks of a screening programme based on FITs.…”

Equivalent Accuracy of 2 Quantitative Fecal Immunochemical Tests in Detecting Advanced Neoplasia in an Organized Colorectal Cancer Screening Program

“…Consequently, factors that are known to influence test results were identical, including temperature changes, time differences from sampling to analyzing, and laboratorial logistic differences. 28 Screening logistics, from invitation to pathology for those who underwent colonoscopy, were identical to those of the Dutch nationwide screening program. Socioeconomic status scores are a composite area-based measure of education, income, and employment.…”