Blood test added to colorectal cancer screening options by cancer group

For the first time, a blood test has been added to the list of the American Cancer Society’s recommended screenings for colorectal cancer.

For the first time, a blood test has been added to the list of the American Cancer Society’s recommended screenings for colorectal cancer. It’s not meant to replace colonoscopies, aiming instead at catching people who might not get screened otherwise.

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“About a third of Americans are not up to date with colorectal cancer screening,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer for the American Cancer Society. Adding a new type of test could “dramatically increase” the number of people screened for colorectal cancer, which is the nation’s top cause of cancer death in people under age 50, he said.

The blood test, called Shield, from California-based Guardant Health, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2024. It works by detecting DNA fragments released by cancerous tumors. The American Cancer Society recommends it only for people who can’t or won’t undergo more effective screenings like colonoscopies or stool tests.