The FDA advisory panel recommended the approval of a new blood test called Shield by Guardant Health for colon cancer detection. This non-invasive test can increase screening rates for average-risk Americans and potentially reduce preventable deaths. Despite concerns about its accuracy compared to colonoscopy, the test detected 83% of colon cancers in a study. The test may need to be repeated every one to three years, and colonoscopy remains the prioritized option for colon cancer screening. If approved by the FDA, Shield would be the second blood-based colon cancer test available in the U.S.roughly 150,000 patients are diagnosed with colon cancer annually.
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FDA panel gives nod to blood test for colon cancer
