Post my poo through the letterbox?

[Zoesmummy1]

I was asked by my gp to do two stool samples after finding blood in my poo and some other worrying symptoms. I go on holiday tomorrow for two weeks so was wondering if I should post the samples through the surgery door before I go very early tomorrow morning? I would usually wait until I returned but am obviously very worried about my symptoms and have a family history of bowel cancer so don’t really want to wait two weeks extra. Is this ok or out or order on my part?

They will have details on the documents(or a return label)of where to return the samples. My guess is that it is unlikely to be the GP surgery

The regular bowel cancer screening tests are a different pathway to diagnostic tests, so if the GP asked you to do it, return it to the GP.

For those who haven't given a stool sample, please don't be alarmed.

There's a tiny scoop attached to the sample pot lid. You scoop a pea sized bit of poo then screw the lid on the sample pot. Very quick and easy. The OP isn't pooing into a pot!

Early morning should be fine as it won't sit there for too long and can be refrigerated until collected. If I were you, I'd put a note in with it and explain why you've posted it - and make sure it is clearly labeled with your name, age and address.

I hope you manage to enjoy your holiday despite the worry.

Best wishes for the tests being clear.

It's not a pot. If it's the normal poo screening test that you put on the post, it's a tiny grooved stick that ends up with just a smear of poo on it.

Some say you must return it before a certain time as they're collected, my mum's one tried to say it must be before 12pm. But you have to put it in a special marked bin thing. I don't think it would fit through a letterbox and the sample can become inconclusive if it's left too long or not stored correctly. Can you ask a friend to drop it into the surgery as soon as they open?

If the sample pots were given by the GP surgery, that’s normally where you return them and they send them all off with a courier to the hospital.

I'm over 60 and so do this regularly. I seal the sample in the little pot provided. Seal that in the envelope provided and wash my hands afterwards.

There are thousands of these samples passing through the mail and GP/Hospital desks every day. Just be appropriately hygienic and send it where it's meant to go.

Have you got a friend who can give your poo in for you?

I'd wait until you get back

I think it’s fine, so long as they are packaged correctly. Can you give the surgery a ring once they are open to let them know?

True story, I was once on the opening shift at the surgery I worked at at and a family staying at Butlins who were suffering from d & v had been asked to drop stool samples off for testing. They'd been provided with the correct containers but had decided to go home early so rather than handing them over to a staff member they'd popped them in out metal post box outside the surgery.

7am along comes me, unlocks the letterbox, puts my hand in to be met with loose stool samples which had leaked, touching my bare hands 🤢. The family had to be contacted urgently and told to present new samples to be tested at their home surgery and as I had been exposed to a biohazard I was sent home until the results were back!

This will be fine as long as they have a letterbox. It’s in a sealed pot!

I've always thought crapping in an envelope and posting it through someones letterbox would get you in trouble. You could always say it was a Halloween trick or treat I suspose. 😀

Just please, please make sure that you label the actual container with your full name, DOB and preferably another identifier (NHS number for example). Even though the attached paperwork has all your details, the lab will reject the sample if it isn't correctly labelled.

I would label the envelope and write the time posted so the staff know it hasn't been there all night.

Worst that can happen is that it will be discarded and you will be asked to repeat. But there's no harm in trying.

Best wishes for 'normal' results and I hope you're able to enjoy your holiday

Came on this thread to say that was rather extreme for trick or treating.

If you weren't going off so early tomorrow, you could phone the surgery and ask them.

Do you have a good friend who could post them or drop them into the surgery?

I'd put the outer envelope into another envelope and address it to the practice with 'Bowel testing sample ' on the outside.

The usual bowel testing kits are sent off in the post to a national lab , not somewhere locally.

I don't know what posts GP use but for the national bowel testing programme they are tiny test tubes which take just a teeny bit of poo (on a stick.)

TBH I don't think there is anything too awful about staff seeing a pot of poo.
It's a medical setting, even if they are admin.

I couldn't believe the tiny amount needed to screen for blood. You wouldn't even know what it was that was in the screening kit.

I'd think that if it can go through the post, it can sit all sealed up and well labelled until they arrive at the surgery.
I know in Australia they have a free bowel cancer screening program that is all done through the post. They send it out when you hit a certain age and then every couple of years after that. I thought that was amazing!

It' s the same in the UK for anyone 54-70.
Sample sent off every 2 years.

True, but that's the general population screening though. I've had several of those, but the one the GP asked for in response to specific issues was a pot which required a larger sample and had to be placed in a sample bin that morning, to go to the hospital lab.

I'm assuming OP 's is one of those.

Yes, your plan sounds good, op. It’s all sealed and if you put it the sample pots in an envelope. The staff will be used to things like this too.
I hope all will be well and you have a good time away.

It sounds like you have done a FIT test, in which case it's well protected in the plastic housing. Put your name, dob and date sample was taken on and post into you GP practice, yea.

Our surgery has a sign on the door saying not to. It's because when people have done it previously they have sometimes leaked.

Fully expected to open this thread and report as the poo troll - am pleasantly surprised.
Absolutely post that poo if there is a letterbox. I’ve done a postal sample form before so basically the same… 🤣 (maybe write WARNING THE CONTENTS OF THIS LETTER IS SHIT just so you don’t cause upset…)