ACS updates colorectal screening guidelines, adds blood test

The American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to include a blood test for the first time, while also endorsing new and updated stool-based tests. The move aims to increase screening rates by expanding options for adults at average risk, particularly those who have avoided traditional methods.

The updated guidelines, published in the medical journal CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, maintain that colonoscopy remains the most effective screening tool. However, they now formally recommend a blood-based test called Shield, developed by Guardant Health and approved by the FDA in 2024, as an option for individuals who decline or do not complete a colonoscopy or stool test. The guidelines also endorse an updated version of the Cologuard stool DNA test, called Cologuard Plus, and a new stool RNA test named ColoSense.

Officials emphasized that the blood test is not the preferred first choice. Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society, stated that blood-based tests are less sensitive than other methods at detecting early-stage cancers and precancerous growths. Clinical data indicates the Shield test has...