Blood Test Added to Screening Guidelines for Colorectal Cancers for First Time
The update adds Guardant Health’s Shield for adults who decline colonoscopy or stool tests and endorses two higher-sensitivity stool tests.
- On Wednesday, the American Cancer Society released updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines endorsing two new stool tests—Cologuard Plus and ColoSense—while recommending Shield blood testing only for patients declining other options.
- Colorectal cancer has become the leading cancer killer among Americans under 50, with less than half of adults aged 45 to 49 completing routine screenings, driving the ACS to expand testing options.
- Cologuard Plus and ColoSense demonstrate 95% and 93% sensitivity for cancer detection respectively, while Shield detects about 83% of colorectal cancers but is significantly less effective at catching precancerous polyps and early-stage disease.
- Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society, stated the blood test is 'not the first choice' but appropriate for patients unable or unwilling to undergo colonoscopy or stool collection, with positive results requiring colonoscopy follow-up within six months.
- Blood-Based tests show more than 90% completion rates versus 28% to 71% for colonoscopy or stool testing, though ACS CAN president Lisa Lacasse warned that coverage and affordability remain critical barriers to equitable screening access.
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75 Articles
Young adult colorectal cancer rates climb as new blood test option joins screening gu
The American Cancer Society updates colorectal cancer screening guidelines with blood tests amid rising cases in young adults, but emphasizes colonoscopy and stool tests remain the preferred and more accurate methods
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Doctors push new blood tests for colon cancer as cases surge in younger adults
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening.The organization released the update in its flagship journal on Wednesday, noting that the new recommendations "re-affirm" that adults at average risk should be screened for colorectal cancer at age 45 and continue through 75, for those with a life expectancy greater than 10 years.In addition to the standard colonoscopy, the ACS also recommends that pati…
New Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines Add Blood Test Option for Millions of Americans
Guidelines suggest colorectal cancer screening for average-risk people beginning at age 45.Credit: Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty ImagesNew ACS guidelines add blood-based and updated at-home tests to expand colorectal cancer screening participation.Colonoscopy remains the most comprehensive screening option and the only test that can remove precancerous polyps.Blood-based screening tests are intended for patients who decline or do not complete prefe…
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