Faecal haemoglobin concentrations vary with sex and age, but data are not transferable across geography for colorectal cancer screening.

Background: Faecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are becoming widely used in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Availability of data on faecal haemoglobin concentrations (f-Hb) in three countries prompted an observational study on sex and age and the transferability of data across geography.

Methods: Single estimates of f-Hb in large groups were made in Scotland, Taiwan and Italy using quantitative automated immunoturbidimetry on the Eiken OC-Sensor.