FDA approves blood test for colorectal cancer screening

It's official: the FDA has approved the first blood test to check for signs of colorectal cancer. The approval came late in July 2024, for a blood test called Shield. It was previously available with a doctor's prescription, for $895. The FDA approval means that Shield will now be covered by many insurance plans. For example, people with Medicare Part B won't pay any out-of-pocket costs for Shield. People with Medicare Advantage may be subject to copays and deductibles. Getting the blood test (every three years) is simpler than going through a lengthy prep and a procedure (colonoscopy) to have a doctor inspect the inside of the colon, and it's not as messy as collecting a stool sample at home and sending it to a lab. But there's a catch: as we reported early in July 2024, Shield detects 83% of colorectal cancers, but only 13% of precancerous growths called polyps. Also, suspicious Shield findings must be followed up with a colonoscopy. Still, doctors say any screening is better than no screening, and they're hopeful that Shield's convenience will motivate people reluctant to have a colonoscopy or do stool tests to get checked for colorectal cancer.