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Cologuard is a Colorectal cancer screening test. If your provider has ordered a Cologuard test for you, please watch this video to understand how to use the kit.
Cologuard tests should be completed every three years. After you complete the test, your El Rio Health provider will receive your results. If your results are positive, you will receive additional information from your provider.
Video Transcript
Video Title: How To Use Cologuard (English)
Length: 3:56
Link to YouTube page: https://youtu.be/b1nxS_yjiEk?si=ZPHuDxPEW4LHULYO
Transcript
[0:00] Audio: Guitar music starts playing
[0:01] Visual: White cube cartoon character pops up on a dark blue background
[0:02] Character: So your health care provider has ordered Cologuard for you and you’ve received a collection kit
[0:06] Visual: Lighter teal ground slides in from right and text is on screen “Have a question? Call us 24/7 at 1-844-870-8870” and the character holds a sign saying “How to use Cologuard”
[0:07] Character: That may sound complication but we’re going to make it easy
[0:10] Visual: Man holding a Cologuard box on a table
[0:11] Character: Cologuard has no special prep or changes to diet and medication. Neat, right? We’ll show you in a few simple steps. Collect your sample and ship it to the lab where it will be tested.
[0:20] Visual: The Character slides a house phone to the man and he picks it up to answer and places it back down
[0:21] Character: You may receive a few phone calls from Exact Sciences Laboratories to remind you to use Cologuard if you haven’t already. Before we start, make sure you’ll be able to ship your sample the same day or the next day after collection to allow enough delivery time
[0:33] Visual: The man circles a date on a desk calendar with text on the screen “Remember, some places are closed on Sundays or holidays”
[0:34] Character: The lab must receive your sample within 4 days for successful testing. Are you ready? It’s go time.
[0:39] Visual: The table slides away, the man grabs the box and walks to the bathroom. Text on the screen “Step 1”
[0:45] Character: Step 1, check the expiration date on the box.
[0:47] Visual: Text on screen “Check & use kit before expiration date”
[0:48] Character: If you’re good, then unpack it. First pull out your patient instruction guides and shipping instructions. Then, unzip the plastic bag to take out the contents for collection. Leave the bag attached to the box, you’ll need it to safely ship your sample back.
[1:01] Visual: Screen shifts to a blue table with the Cologuard box in the top left corner with the inside items displayed across the table
[1:02] Character: As you unpack the box, take your time to check that you have your sample container, tube, bottle of preservative liquid, bracket, and sample labels. Have everything laid out?
[1:12] Visual: Same man from earlier nods his head yes
[1:13] Character: On to step 2.
[1:14] Visual: Text on screen “Step 2”
[1:15] Character: Now raise the toilet lid and see. Unfold the bracket and place it on the toilet rim towards the back. Lower the seat onto the bracket. Can you see the opening? Ok.
[1:23] Visual: Same man from earlier is unscrewing a lid from a container and lowering it into the bracket in the toilet
[1:24] Character: Unscrew the lid of the large container and slip the container in the bracket. Perfect!
[1:28] Visual: Screen shifts to see the man walking from the toilet and is tossed a roll of toilet paper. He then shuts the door. Their is text on the screen saying “Step 3”
[1:30] Character: Step 3, now it’s time to do your thing. Sit on the toilet and have a bowel movement into the container. Be careful not to contaminate your sample.
[1:37] Visual: Text on the screen “No toilet paper or excess urine in the container”
[1:38] Character: It’s ok if a little bit of urine gets in the container.
[1:39] Visual: Text on the screen “Sample should be no larger than the bottle of liquid preservative”
[1:40] Character: Your sample should be whatever is typical for you in terms of consistency and size but should be no larger than the bottle of liquid preservative that comes with your kit.
[1:48] Visual: Screen shifts to show the man back in the restroom standing over the toilet lifting up the container from the toilet and bracket
[1:49] Character: When you’re done, stand up, lift the container from the bracket and place it on the counter.
[1:51] Visual: Man is standing at the counter with his container and other supplies
[1:52] Character: Leave the sample container open because there’s still a few more steps before you’re ready to ship.
[1:57] Visual: Text on screen “Step 4” and man grabs the white tube
[1:58] Character: Step 4, grab the small white tube. Yep, that’s the one. Unscrew the cap and pull out the probe.
[2:05] Visual: Text on screen “Not actual stool” and an zoomed in view of the probe
[2:06] Character: Now scrape the surface of the sample until you cover the grooves on the probe. Put the probe back into the tube. Screw the cap close completely. Now, empty all of the preservative liquid from the bottle into the container. Anything left in the bottle?
[2:20] Visual: Text on screen “Step 5” and man is screwing the lid back on the container
[2:21] Character: Step 5, next place the lid on the container, screw it on straight and tight.
[2:26] Visual: Screen shifts to show the man washing his hands with text on screen “Trash or recycle empty bottle & bracket” and screen shifts back to show the man at the counter washing and drying his hands
[2:27] Character: Then, trash or recycle the empty preservative liquid bottle and the toilet bracket. Congrats! See how easy that was?
[2:32] Visual: Text on screen “Step 6”
[2:33] Character: Step 6. Finally before you pack your box, you need to label your samples. First check your shipping label and take note of how your name and address are written.
[2:46] Visual: Screen shifts to show the sample label with the man filling them out and text on the screen “Fill out labels completely” and “Print clearly”
[2:47] Character: Then using a ballpoint pen, clearly print your name, date of birth, and date of time of collection on the blank sample labels.
[2:50] Visual: Screen shifts to show the container and man placing the sample label stickers on the top. It then shows him placing the sample label stickers on the tube
[2:51] Character: Label your sample container like this
[2:53] Visual: Screen shifts to a side-by-side view of the box that the man is packing and a zoomed out view of the man packing the box
[2:54] Character: Then carefully pack your box back up and ship it the same day or the next day after collection.
[2:59] Visual: Screen shifts to show the man peeling the label and text on the screen “Some kits have just one label, not two
[3:00] Character: Here’s how to make that happen. Peel back this label and voila, you’ll find a prepaid and preaddressed return label
[3:05] Visual: Screen shifts to show the man walking away from the counter carrying his Cologuard box and text on the screen “Kit can be picked up or taken to a UPS store”
[3:06] Character: Now you can either drop off your sample at a UPS location or call UPS or Exact Sciences Laboratories customer care center to schedule a contact free pickup.
[3:15] Visual: Screen shifts to show man walking through a teal room with furniture carrying his box and text on the screen “Ship your sample within one day of collection”
[3:16] Character: Plan to collect your sample when you can get it back to UPS that same day or the next day. The lab must receive your sample as soon as possible to be tested successfully.
[3:24] Visual: Screen shifts to show the man walking out of a yellow house with his box and text on the screen “Remember, some places are closed on Sundays or holidays”
[3:25] Character: So, make sure a Sunday or a holiday will not delay your shipment. After you drop off or have your kit picked up, it will be shipped directly to our lab. You should hear from your healthcare provider in about two weeks with your result. It’s that easy.
[3:36] Visual: Screen shifts to zoomed in view of man with the character’s hand popping up on the left side for a high-five
[3:37] Character: Now, enjoy the rest of your day.
[3:40] Visual: Screen shifts to dark blue background with the Cologuard character waving with the Cologuard Rx only label and text on the screen “Have a question? Call us 24/7 At 1-844-870-8870
[3:42] Visual: Screen shifts to same dark blue background with two paragraphs of text “Cologuard is intended to screen adults 45 years of age and older who are at average risk for colorectal cancer by detecting certain DNA markers and blood in the stool. Do not use if you have had adenomas, have inflammatory bowel disease and certain hereditary syndromes, or a personal or family history of colorectal cancer. Cologuard is not a replacement for a colonoscopy in high risk patients. Cologuard performance in adults ages 45-49 is estimated based on a large clinical study of patients 50 and older.” “The Cologuard test result should be interpreted with caution. A positive test result does not confirm the presence of cancer. Patients with a positive test result should be referred for diagnostics colonoscopy. A negative test result does not confirm the absence of cancer. Patients with a negative test result should discuss with their doctor when they need to be tested again. False positives and false negative results can occur. In a clinical study, 13% of people without cancer received a positive result (false positive) and 8% of people with cancer received a negative result (false negative). Rx only.”
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is also known as colon cancer. This is a cancer that usually begins in the colon (large bowel) and develops slowly over time. It often begins as a non-cancerous polyp. This polyp may turn into colon cancer.
Screening tests allow the cancer to be found early. Colorectal cancer is a preventable and treatable cancer when caught early.
Who gets colon cancer?
Anyone can get colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States.
Screening tests allow the cancer to be found early. Colorectal cancer is a preventable and treatable cancer when caught early.
Who should have a colorectal cancer screening?
Everyone between the ages of 50 to 75 years of age should receive a colorectal cancer screening.
If you have a family history of colon cancer, you should talk to your doctor. You may need to be screened earlier.
Why should I get screened?
Colorectal cancer screening saves lives in two important ways:
- Finding a removing polyps before they become cancerous
- By detecting the cancer early
Both men and women should have a test done starting at the age of 50. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you should talk to your doctor to begin screening earlier.
If no one in my family has had colon cancer, do I still need to be screened?
Everyone between the ages of 50 to 75 should be screened. Screening tests allow the cancer to be found early. Colorectal cancer is a preventable and treatable cancer when caught early.
What are the screening choices?
- Stool Sample Tests
- Colonoscopy