Ordering a colorectal cancer screening kit
Last update
Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in Luxembourg. The risk increases with age.
Screening every 2 years is an effective way to detect colorectal cancer in its early stages, often even before any symptoms appear, and to react quickly.
In this context, the Health Directorate (Direction de la santé) of the Ministry of Health and Social Security is inviting you to perform a FIT test (FIT - 'fecal immunochemical test').
This is a simple test that can be taken at home and which allows to detect minimal traces of blood in a stool sample.
The invitation contains a voucher number that allows you to order a home screening kit:
- through your private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu; or
- by phone on (+352) 27 321 888.
You can also collect the kit in person from:
- a pharmacy in Luxembourg; or
- a sampling centre of the BIONEXT medical analysis laboratory.
Who is concerned
The screening invitation is sent to people aged 45 to 74 years old who:
- reside in Luxembourg; and
- are registered with the Luxembourg social security system.
If you are affiliated but live abroad, you can make a request to participate in the programme. To do this, you must contact the Cancer Screening Programme Coordination Centre (Centre de coordination des programmes de dépistages organisés des cancers):
- by email to colorectal@ms.etat.lu;
- by phone on (+352) 247 75 550;
- by post to the following address:
Direction de la santé
Centre de coordination des programmes de dépistages organisés des cancers
20, rue de Bitbourg
L-1273 Luxembourg
Prerequisites
To be able to order or collect a screening kit, you must have previously received an invitation by post.
If you would like to order the screening kit online, you must have a private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu. This is a procedure requiring authentication. You therefore need your own authentication product, i.e.:
- a LuxTrust product; or
- a Luxembourg electronic identity card (eID); or
- an eIDAS device from another European country.
You can also order it by phone or collect it in person directly on site. You will find more details under 'How to proceed'.
Deadlines
The invitation number (voucher) shown on the invitation is valid for 23 months.
Costs
All costs associated with participation in the colorectal cancer screening programme are covered by the Health Directorate. This includes:
- ordering the screening kit;
- sending the stool sample; and
- the laboratory analysis.
If your FIT test result is positive, a follow-up colonoscopy carried out by a gastroenterologist approved by the programme is fully covered by your health insurance fund, provided that you are still affiliated with the Luxembourg social security system.
Otherwise, reimbursement will be made in accordance with the terms and reimbursement rates set by your private health insurance fund.
Only the costs associated with anaesthesia and preparatory products are not fully reimbursed.
How to proceed
Sending the invitation
You will receive the first invitation by post in the month of your 45th birthday. Subsequent invitations are sent at the following intervals:
- if you don't participate in the screening, you will receive:
- a reminder after 4 months underlining the importance of the screening;
- a new invitation 23 months after the first;
- if you participate in the screening and the result is negative, you will receive a new invitation and screening kit 23 months after doing the FIT test, without having to place an order;
- if you participate in the screening and the result is positive, the next invitation will depend on the recommendations issued by your general practitioner. Your general practitioner may decide to remove you from the programme depending on the results of your additional examinations.
If you want to know when you will receive your invitation, you can contact the cancer screening programme coordination centre:
- by email to colorectal@ms.etat.lu stating your 13-digit Luxembourg national identification number (matricule);
- by phone on (+352) 247 75 550, then choose the option 'PDOCCR' which stands for 'Programme de dépistage organisé du cancer colorectal' (Colorectal cancer screening programme).
If you would like to receive screening invitations and reminders electronically via your private eSpace on MyGuichet.lu, you can activate the eDelivery service provided by the Cancer screening programme coordination centre at the Health Directorate (see Online services and forms').
Participation in the colorectal cancer screening programme
Participation in the colorectal cancer screening programme is voluntary and is not subject to any obligation.
The invitation number (voucher) and the screening kit are linked to your 13-digit Luxembourg national identification number (matricule) and are therefore registered in your name. You cannot pass them on to another person.
In the event that you have recently had a colonoscopy or if you have digestive symptoms, the Health Directorate advises you to contact your doctor before doing a screening test.
Ordering or collecting your colorectal cancer screening kit
- Order online or by phone
- Pick-up in person
You can order the screening kit online through your private eSpace onMyGuichet.lu.
Since this is a procedure with authentication, the following information has already been filled out within the procedure and can't be changed:
- your 13-digit Luxembourg national identification number (Matricule);
- your surname and first name.
After you have entered the invitation number (voucher), you can choose:
- the language for the screening kit;
- the delivery address for the screening kit;
- the medical practitioner who should receive your test result (optional).
You can also order your test kit by phone. To do so, please contact the call centre for the BIONEXT medical analysis laboratory on the following number: (+352) 27 321 888. The number is accessible:
- Monday to Friday from 6.00 to 19.00;
- Saturday from 6.30 to 13.00.
To order the kit, you have to provide the call centre agent with:
- your 13-digit Luxembourg national identification number (Matricule);
- your surname and first name; and
- the voucher number shown on your invitation.
The screening kit will be sent at the earliest within 7 days to the address provided. If you haven't received the kit after this period, you can contact the cancer screening programme coordination centre:
- by email to colorectal@ms.etat.lu;
- by phone on (+352) 247 75 550.
You can also collect your screening kit in person from:
- a pharmacy in Luxembourg; or
- one of the sampling centres of the BIONEXT medical analysis laboratory.
You will find the addresses of the centres on the laboratory website.
To collect your kit in person, you must bring your invitation with you.
Test results
Please note that the screening kit test result will not be made available on MyGuichet.lu. They will be made available by the BIONEXT laboratory on their MyLab platform.
If you are unable to view the results online, they will be sent to your address by post within 5 working days.
Data protection
How is my personal data processed?
Information notice on the processing of your personal data
The Health Directorate in collaboration with the National Health Fund (CNS) is organising cancer screening programmes.
The current notice is for the colorectal cancer screening programme (PDOCCR). It provides information on how your personal data is used in connection with this programme, as well as on your data protection rights.
Why this invitation?
This invitation has been sent to you by the Health Directorate based on information provided by the National Registry of Natural Persons (RNPP) and the National Health Fund (CNS) as part of the colorectal cancer screening programme established by agreement. This programme is available to people aged 45 to 74 who are affiliated with the CNS, with a view to promoting early detection of colorectal cancer and better treatment.
Is my participation voluntary?
Yes, your participation in the programme is entirely voluntary. Please note that if you no longer wish to receive invitations, you can simply notify the Cancer screening programme coordination centre (Health Directorate) of your refusal in writing using this form (Pdf - 567 Kb).
Who processes my data?
If you decide to participate in the programme, your personal data (identification and, where applicable, contact details) will be processed by the laboratory responsible for sending you your FIT test by post and analysing it.
Your contact details will be reused to automatically send you a complete screening kit when you receive your next invitation, for as long as you actively participate in the programme.
More specifically, your health data will be processed by:
- the laboratory responsible for the analyses;
- the Health Directorate through its Cancer screening programme coordination centre, in order to follow up on your additional tests in the event of a 'positive' screening result and to contribute to improving the early detection and treatment of colorectal cancer;
- your doctor, if you indicated one when placing your order or on your identification form, to whom the results will be communicated in order to ensure follow-up of your screening;
- the eSanté agency: unless you object, your results will be automatically added to your Electronic Health Record (Dossier de Soin Partagé - DSP).
At the organisational level, it should be noted that invitations are sent by the Government IT Centre (CTIE). In addition, the Health Directorate uses IT subcontractors who may occasionally access the data for tool maintenance purposes. These subcontractors are contractually bound by a confidentiality obligation.
Your data is processed on the basis of Article 9(2)(h) of the General Data Protection Regulation.
What secure exchanges of screening data are carried out for the purpose of improving the national programme?
Your data is processed by the Health Directorate in aggregate form for statistical purposes in order to evaluate the activity and quality of the programme. In addition, pseudonymised data (participation in screening, screening results and additional tests following abnormal screening results, if known) are exchanged with the Luxembourg Institute of Health via the National Cancer Registry (Registre National du Cancer - RNC). The purpose of this exchange is to evaluate the effectiveness of the organised screening programme in relation to cancer diagnoses made outside the programme. The RNC will therefore provide the Cancer screening programme coordination centre (Health Directorate) with information on any cancer diagnosed in relation to you, including if it was detected outside the programme.
How long will my data be kept?
Personal and pseudonymised data are kept by the Health Directorate for a maximum of 12 years from the age at which you are no longer eligible for the screening programme (74 years old).
What are my rights with regard to data protection?
The General Data Protection Regulation grants you a number of rights:
- to access to your data and obtain a copy of it;
- to rectify your data when it is incorrect or incomplete;
- under certain conditions, you may also restrict the processing of your data, object to the processing of your data, and request its erasure or portability.
You can exercise your rights by submitting a written request to the Health Directorate, providing proof of your identity:
- either by email to colorectal@ms.etat.lu, by stating: Protection des données / Demande d’exercice de droits;
- or by post to the following address: Centre de Coordination des programmes de dépistage des cancers – ministère de la Santé et de la Sécurité sociale, Direction de la santé – 20, rue de Bitbourg L-1273 Luxembourg-Hamm.
If you are not entirely satisfied with the response you receive, or if you have any questions about data protection, you can refer the matter to the Data Protection Officer by contacting them:
- either by email to info_donnees@ms.etat.lu;
- or by post at the following address: Délégué à la protection des données, ministère de la Santé et de la Sécurité sociale, Direction de la santé - 13a, rue de Bitbourg L-1273 Luxembourg-Hamm.
You may also lodge a complaint with the National Commission for Data Protection:
- either by post at the following address: 15, Boulevard du Jazz L-4370 Belvaux;
- or by completing the online form available on the website of the CNPD in the 'Individuals' section -> Asserting your rights.
Online services and forms
Online services
Who to contact
Health Directorate Cancer Screening Programme Coordination Centre
- Address:
- 20, rue de Bitbourg L-1273 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Phone:
-
(+352) 247 75 550
Monday to Friday from 8.30 to 11.30 and from 14.00 to 17.00
- Fax:
- (+352) 247 95 563
- Email address:
- colorectal@ms.etat.lu
If the telephone number is not accessible or if you call outside opening hours, an answering service is also available.
Related procedures and links
Procedures
Links
Further information
-
Colorectal cancer: screening programme
on SanteSecu.lu
-
Our laboratories
on the website of BIONEXT
-
Pharmacies
sur pharmacie.lu, le site du Syndicat des pharmaciens luxembourgeois (SPL)
