2.2 Assessments by the general practitioner
General practitioner examinations and investigations should include:
- physical examination
- digital rectal examination
- full blood examination and iron studies (Cancer Council Australia Colorectal Guidelines Working Party 2019).
Note: a negative result from an iFOBT does not exclude cancer.
A detailed family history should be obtained from patients presenting with possible symptoms of colorectal cancer.
Test results should be provided to the patient within one week of testing.