Blood test for colorectal cancer screening approved
The test can be used to screen for colorectal cancer in average-risk individuals who are 45 years of age or older.
The FDA has approved a new blood test to screen for colorectal cancer (CRC), the agency announced on July 30.
Shield, from Guardant Health, Inc., screens for CRC in average-risk individuals who are 45 years of age or older. Patients with positive test results should have a colonoscopy, since the test is not a replacement for diagnostic colonoscopy or for surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals, the FDA said. Shield has limited detection (55% to 65%) of stage I CRC and does not detect 87% of precancerous lesions, the agency noted.