Blood test added to screening guidelines for colorectal cancers for first time

The American Cancer Society now includes a first-ever blood test (Guardant Health’s Shield) and a new at‑home stool test (ColoSense) as approved colorectal cancer screening options — but any positive result should be followed by a colonoscopy, preferably within 6 months.
Colonoscopy remains the standard recommendation (every 10 years for ages 45–75), yet about 1 in 3 eligible people skip screening, so adding alternatives aims to boost participation.
Blood‑based tests detect tumor DNA but are less sensitive than other methods and are mainly recommended for people who otherwise wouldn’t get screened; researchers say early detection has cut deaths but worry about rising cases in younger adults and persistent disparities.