Box just arrived...I see now what you mean by big box.:)
This one is 10x10x10 inches and the other years boxes were more like 3x2x1inches.

Mine was a 10X10x10 box. PCP said that kind was ok since previous real deal was “no problem found”. I’m 77…not sure when they decide is too old to worry about it anymore.

After unpacking the big box today, I found why it's bigger.

The old small box test was simply a swab in a tube that was sent back to them.

The new big box is because they want the whole turd sent back plus a swab of it in another tube.

Fun, fun, fun. :D

:eek::eek::eek:

I've done a FIT test twice now, which is similar to cologuard, but I never had to mail a whole turd in. The first time, the kit included one of those cardboard boats like you might get French fries in at a fast food place. You carp in the boat, swab the turd, and then flush the turd and trash the boat. The most recent time was different, you make sure the toilet is clean, flush the toilet, crap, swab the floater, and then flush.
I'm happy with the advance.

This one includes a bracket that fits between the toilet rim and the seat. In the middle of the bracket is a round hole in which you place an included plastic container. The turd is deposited into the container and then a jug of liquid (included) is added to the turd. It is capped and sent off.

I forgot to mention...before adding the liquid to the turd, it must be swabbed with a brush that goes in a tube. The return package needs to include the whole turd and the swabbed brush.

Instructions are a 12 page booklet. :)

I'm hoping to ace this test.


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WTF! I hope it's a BIG container!

^^^ It's about the size and shape of a 1.5 lb ground coffee container.

It says to firmly tighten the lid before shipping it back. :D
Whoops!

Finally found a good time to fill the container today. Packaged it up and dropped it off at the UPS store.
The box has arrows on it to keep it upright. I pity the carrier who disregards the arrows.:)

The label says 'next day air'....so I should know the results soon.

I should have written on the shipping label..'Do not return to sender'

Yikes! I very much prefer my swab it in the bowl option.

The instructions that came with it said 'this collection method is much more accurate than the swab method'
It had to be more costly...there are a lot of parts included. Plus, next day air isn't cheap.

A few thoughts…

Did you ever think there would be a thread about checking your #2 and shipping it?

How would you like to be the lab technician that has to open up every 10 x 10 x 10 box to check an entire turd and not a swab…

^^^
Nope, but I am glad there is an alternative to another colonoscopy.

The kit includes a pint of preservative that is poured on the turd to make it 'as good as new' when it arrives at the lab.:D
The returned box contains both the turd and the test tube containing the swabbed turd. (no idea why they need both)

The processing of the cologuard samples is entirely automated. You can find a vid on their website. Containers are shaken and a hole is punched to auto fill a small portion of the mix in a test tube.

Taking a larger sample will give more accurate results. They are looking for DNA.

I'm surprised they can't get DNA from just the swab.
And I guess I don't understand why they want the DNA?

.

They are looking for abnormal cancerous or precancerous cells. They are also still looking for blood like the old tests. Both are easier to find if you have a larger sample.

^^^ Thanks
They just now sent me a tracking email. It arrived in Madison, Wisconsin and is due to be delivered to the lab this afternoon.
It was 9 degrees here overnight and Madison would be about the same.

I wonder who has the job of thawing that puppy out. :)

Late to the discussion (ahem, Xmas family computing mayhem)

This whole thing sounds miserable and I'm still concerned that, in an abundance of (their) caution, you're going to enjoy enough positives or inconclusives requiring the real deal that you might as well go all of the way from the start.

Related "thank god not my job" content - early in my professional life I needed to do semiannual bioassays for Pu and Am. At least then that meant each affected employee toted, over the year, four 1-L bottles of urine to be boiled down and counted. I think now they use more precise ICP-MS or other tools, but the older health physics dudes told horrifying stories of the bioassay lab's HVAC going down (there were probably 400 of us in the program)

When the kit was delivered, the directions said there was an expiration date on the box.
It was June of 2026, so I was in no hurry because I had 'out of state' family staying here over the holidays.

Even so, I received emails and phone calls almost every day prompting me to fill the thing. (which doesn't help matters)

When I finally did, It was easy and a relief.

They say it might take up to two weeks for the test report. I won't be surprised if it comes up with 'further exams are recommended'