New Blood Test Enhances Colorectal Cancer Screening Options

The American Cancer Society introduces Guardant Health's Shield blood test as a new options for colorectal cancer screening. Approved by the FDA, this test detects genetic material from tumors in blood, aiming to lower screening barriers. It complements existing colonoscopy and stool tests, with varied screening recommendations.

The American Cancer Society has expanded its colorectal cancer screening options to include a blood test, Guardant Health's Shield, as announced on Wednesday. This move marks a significant shift in public health strategy, aiming to make screening more accessible by reducing barriers that colonoscopy and stool testing present.

Endorsed in newly updated guidelines published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the Shield test is FDA-approved for detecting tumor genetics in the bloodstream. While colonoscopy remains the gold standard, this addition highlights the increasing emphasis on colorectal cancer as highly preventable and treatable.

The ACS guidelines suggest that individuals who opt out of standard methods, such as colonoscopies or stool tests, may consider the blood test. Prospective screening begins at age 45 and continues until age 75, though heightened risk individuals should remain cautious with the new blood test's use.