HOW TO USE THE COLOGUARD® TEST

How to complete and return your Cologuard test

Get the recipe for a stress-free Cologuard experience.
Exact Sciences | February 2026
A just-delivered Cologuard box sits in front of a doorstep.

If this is your first time taking the Cologuard test, you might have questions like: Do I need to prep? Can foods cause a false positive? What if I mess up? How accurate is this? And we get it. There was a time when mailing your poop was just considered a rude prank. And now, it’s considered a smart way to take care of your health. We created this guide to answer your questions, and help you complete your screening with confidence, one step at a time.

Why you’ll love it

  • No prep. No fasting. No time off.
  • Just a simple process: Get set up → Collect your sample → Ship it.
  • Cologuard is 92% sensitive for detecting colorectal cancer and 87% specific for ruling it out. Translation? It’s designed to give you confidence in your results.

Start with Cologuard

Prep time

  • 15 minutes or less

Ingredients:

  • Bracket
  • Container
  • Preservative Bottle
  • Tube and Probe
  • Instructions
  • Sample Label Card
  • Shipping Box
  • Toilet (not pictured)
Illustration of what components are included in a Cologuard box.

Difficulty:

  • Beginner-friendly (no diet restrictions, no time off, simple to complete)

Before you begin

  • Snack away. Or don’t. Either way, food and medications aren’t an issue.
  • Read the instructions. (Seriously, they’re well written and helpful.)
  • Gather your supplies. The kit has everything you need except the toilet.
  • Plan your timing. Collect your sample when you can ship it the same day or the next.
  • Relax. You’ve got this!
A woman stands in her bathroom holding a Cologuard box.

Watch the step-by-step video.

Step 1: Meet your kit

Think of this as your mise en place moment:

  • Unpack your kit and review the instructions.
  • Empty your bladder before starting. (Your future self will thank you.)
  • Put on your engineering hat:
  1. Place the bracket under the toilet seat.
  2. Place the container in the bracket.

Step 2: Showtime!

Think of this as your mise en place moment:

  • Do your thing. (Don’t stress about perfection—just whatever is normal for you.)
  • Use the probe to scrape your sample and put it in the tube.
  • Pour the bottle into the container and screw it closed. (Tightly, please.)

We get a lot of questions about this part, so let’s talk about it.

  • What kind of sample is best?
    Your sample. Seriously, whatever is normal for you, is what we want. Just wait for when you expect to have a normal bowel movement. Hold off if you’re experiencing diarrhea, illness, or blood in stool, or are menstruating (we’re happy to wait until things are back to normal).
  • What if I can’t collect enough?
    We don’t need “a lot” to process your test. Use the bottle of preservative for reference—bigger than the cap, smaller than the bottle. Please don’t mix samples from two sessions to make it bigger. (Seriously, just don’t).

Step 3: Ship that S#!@

  • Put your name on your work: Fill out both labels for the container and the probe tube.
  • Remove the shipping label so we can cover the return cost.
  • Schedule a UPS® pickup or drop it off the same day or the next.
  1. Store your boxed and sealed sample at room temperature.
  2. To avoid shipping delays, it’s best not to use your kit on weekends or holidays.

Step 4: Now What?

  • Results are typically sent to you and your healthcare provider in 8–10 days.
  • Want to track your test? Create or log in to your Exact Sciences account here.

Congratulations!

You did it—no prep, no fasting, no waiting rooms. Now treat yourself.

Safe.
Noninvasive.
FDA-approved.