The American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to include blood-based tests, a shift designed to increase screening participation. Released on May 27, the new guidelines recommend the blood test, administered in a doctor's office, as an alternative to the preferred colonoscopy. The update also includes one new and one updated at-home stool test.
Dr. Robert Smith, the ACS senior vice president of early cancer detection science, emphasized that offering more screening options can help close the screening gap and catch cancers earlier. The organization stresses that any abnormal results from alternative tests must be followed by a timely colonoscopy.
Insurance coverage for these new blood tests remains uncertain. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which determines coverage under the Affordable Care Act, currently does not include blood-based or at-home stool tests in its guidelines. The task force's future is also in question after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired its top leaders earlier this month.
Dr. Arif Kamal, ACS chief patient officer, expressed hope that the USPSTF will update its guidelines later this year, as the next scheduled update is expected in 2026.