Today, precision oncology company Guardant Health announced the availability of Shield, a blood-based test for the detection of early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). The test is for patients who are age 45 and older and who are not up to date with recommended screening guidelines, show no symptoms, and are at average risk for CRC.

The availability of a blood-based test for colorectal cancer, which patients complete through a simple blood draw, provides health professionals with another tool for preventing cancer. Shield is intended to be complementary to, and not a replacement for, CRC screening methods recommended by the United States Preventive Service Task Force.

“As the leading nonprofit dedicated to ending colorectal cancer, we celebrate the availability of Guardant Health’s new Shield blood test to detect signs of colorectal cancer in average-risk adults,” said Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “We look forward to working with Guardant Health to get more people screened.”

According to a press release from Guardant Health, a clinical trial of 309 patient samples showed Shield demonstrating 91% sensitivity (detection rate) for CRC overall.  

Guardant Health notes that a negative result does not rule out the presence of cancer. Patients with abnormal blood-based screening results should be referred for a diagnostic colonoscopy.

Shield is currently available for eligible individuals by prescription through healthcare providers.

The Colorectal Cancer Alliance will continue to monitor the Shield test and update our community on its specifics, including an analysis of the detection rates demonstrated through Guardant Health’s clinical trial, in further communications. 

Learn about which colorectal cancer screening options are best for you based on your personal risk factors at quiz.getscreened.org.