This is an initiative launched by Point Of Care Testing Ltd (POCT Ltd) as a result of public demand and need to fill a gap in the availability and accessibility of bowel cancer screening facilities.  Research recognises that screening programmes can decrease the number of deaths from bowel cancer quite significantly.  The main reason for this is that screening allows bowel cancer to be detected in asymptomatic people at an earlier stage when the chances of cure are much greater. 

The aim of the National Independent Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (NIBCSP) is to offer everyone in the UK the opportunity for easy, accessible and regular bowel cancer screening with a reputable laboratory facility to analyse test samples.  The NIBCSP has chosen to offer annual screening this is because annual screening has been proven to reduce death rates by as much as 33% compared to only 15% when biennial screening is practiced. 

The National Independent Bowel Cancer Screening Programme uses the world's leading faecal occult blood test (FOBT) to screen for bowel cancer.