First AD

Second AD

There are several noninvasive colorectal cancer screening tests available.

Currently, colonoscopy is the gold standard for colon cancer screening. However, there are several noninvasive tests available on the market. They are simple to administer and can be performed at home without a bowel prep, which makes these tests attractive to the general public. However, in order for these tests to be adopted as an acceptable alternative to colonoscopy, their results need to be comparable to the gold standard. Fecal occult blood testing has been used as a colon cancer screening test for several years, however its sensitivity is limited (only up to 50%). The fecal immunohistochemical test has much better sensitivity than hemoccult testing. The Cologuard, which was recently approved by the FDA as a colon cancer screening test, uses stool DNA to detect advanced adenomas and cancer. In 

 Cologuard was more sensitive than FIT in detecting both cancer (92% vs 74%, 

=.002) and advanced adenomas (42% vs 24%, 

Gastrointestinal Disorders

There are several “do-it-yourself” colon cancer screening tests available. But do any of them approximate the sensitivity of the gold standard colonoscopy? 

Colorectal Ca Screening: Does Noninvasive Make the Grade?