In this context, I am pleased to report that we have one more colorectal cancer screening tool.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Guardant Health’s blood test for detecting colorectal cancer.

Current Colorectal Screening Change

Colorectal cancer screening typically involves stool-based tests or optical/visualization tests, each aiming to detect the disease before symptoms arise.

Recognizing an increasing risk in younger adults, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its guidelines in 2021, lowering the recommended screening start age from 50 to 45.

This decision stemmed from mounting evidence revealing a concerning rise in colorectal cancer cases among adults under 50.

Statistical modeling further supported this change, indicating that initiating screening at 45 could potentially extend lifespans compared to the previous starting age of 50.

Colorectal Screening Summary

Here are the recommendations in graphic form:

Colorectal cancer screening encompasses various methods, broadly categorized into stool-based tests (like fecal occult blood test (FOBT), fecal immunochemical test (FIT), and FIT-DNA) and optical/visualization tests (such as sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and virtual colonoscopy).

These diverse screening tools play a crucial role in detecting colorectal cancer before the onset of symptoms, significantly improving survival rates through early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Here’s a link to the many ways you can screen:

Colorectal Cancer: Screening

www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org

Colorectal Cancer Screening Blood Test: FDA Approval

Previously limited as a test with a self-pay price of $895, Shield’s U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval marks a significant milestone.

This pivotal decision paves the way for potential Medicare coverage, making this groundbreaking blood test for colorectal cancer screening accessible to a wider population, particularly older adults.

Blood Test Accuracy

While Guardant Health’s Shield blood test, which detects tumor DNA in the bloodstream, has shown promise with an 83 percent effectiveness in identifying colorectal cancers, it primarily excels in detecting later-stage cancers.

The test’s lower sensitivity for early-stage polyps (13 percent) necessitates regular screenings at least every three years, starting at age 45.

It’s important to note that a positive result does not equate to a diagnosis requiring further confirmation through a colonoscopy.

This test marks the second approved blood one for colon cancer screening, following Epigenomics’ Epi proColon, which faces challenges regarding its accuracy and insurance coverage.

My Take

This landmark decision opens the door for potential Medicare coverage in the United States, making colorectal cancer screening more accessible and affordable for older adults.

Do I think this blood test will replace colonoscopies?

No, but hopefully, it will boost the suboptimal screening rates in the United States.

Colonoscopy Is The Gold Standard

Beyond detecting tumors, colonoscopies play a preventive role by removing precancerous polyps.

However, the inconvenience of scheduling and preparation deters some individuals.

Guardant Health’s Shield blood test offers a simpler alternative with a straightforward blood draw.

The New Blood Test Available Soon

The company aims to make this screening option available soon. Hopefully, we will see increasing adherence to recommended colorectal cancer screening guidelines for healthy adults aged 45 to 75.

Shield is not the first blood for colorectal cancer screening. Epigenomics’ Epi proColon was approved in 2016.

However, the proColon test is not often used. Its accuracy is suboptimal, and there is a lack of insurance coverage in the U.S.

Summary

In conclusion, Guardant Health’s recent approval of its blood test for detecting colorectal cancer marks a significant milestone in improving accessibility to screening options for older adults.

While this blood test offers a simpler alternative to colonoscopies, I should note that colonoscopies remain the gold standard for detecting tumors and preventing the development of precancerous polyps.

It’s important for you to consider discussing colorectal cancer screening options with your healthcare providers to make informed decisions regarding your health.

The evolving landscape of colorectal cancer screening provides hope for increased adherence to recommended guidelines, ultimately contributing to improved early detection and patient outcomes.

As an oncologist, I would love to see fewer patients.

Please don’t get me wrong: I am not directly advocating for this particular new blood test; rather, I am pleased with any reasonable maneuver that nudges folks who don’t get recommended colorectal cancer screening.

What has been your colorectal cancer screening experience?

The post The Future of Cancer Screening Is Here: A Simple Blood Test You Can Take at Your Doctor’s Office appeared first on Medika Life.

Nasopharyngeal swabs are the most effective means of detecting COVID-19 infection, offering detection rates of 92 to 100 percent. That’s the conclusion of Cornell University (USA) researchers.

COVID test accuracy

The scientists obtained samples from patients; more specifically, they got four types of specimens:

• Nasopharyngeal swabs (the Q-tip-like collector goes deep into your nose)
• Anterior nares swabs (front of the nostril)
• Saliva
• Sublingual swabs(under the tongue)

The researchers obtained the samples from individuals with symptoms, individuals without symptoms, and subjects who had recovered from illness.

Covid detection rates by test type

Let’s look at the results by test type:

The nasopharyngeal samples had the best detection rate, from 92 to 100 percent. This high detection rate seems logical, as the COVID virus replicates in the uppermost portion of the nose.

Samples from the front of the nostril and saliva proved fairly good, too; about 92 to 96 percent effective for patients with symptoms. On the other hand, when patients had no symptoms, these approaches worked 75 to 92 percent of the time.

Under the tongue sampling proved suboptimal, with detection rates of only 40 to 60 percent for patients with symptoms and 25 to 42 percent for those without symptoms.

Overall, detection rates appeared highest for those with symptoms, ranging from 92 to 100 percent. The detection rate dropped to 75 to 96 percent for those without symptoms. Finally, once a patient no longer had symptoms, detection proved challenging.

I find nasopharyngeal swab tests — wherein the swab is sent far back inside the nostril — dreadful. But this approach is more effective at finding COVID-19 than are swabs put just inside the nose, swabs under the tongue, or saliva tests.

Fortunately, samples obtained from the front of the nose are reasonably accurate (and easier to perform). Study researcher Diego Diel offers this relevant observation:

“We were surprised at the short time in which infectious virus was detected. The data aligns with current US Centers for Disease Control guidelines and its decision to decrease patient isolation periods from an initial 14-day period to 10 and ultimately to five.”

Here’s a piece I wrote earlier on long COVID:

Long Covid: Could This Be Why?MICROCLOTS. COULD THEY EXPLAIN the mystery of why some who get a COVID19 infection suffer for long periods? Three…medium.com

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