Question: Physicians in our practice refer several patients for colorectal cancer screenings, but only about two-thirds of the patients are following through and getting the procedures done. Are there colon cancer screening tests that have a high adherence rate available?
Georgia Subscriber
Answer: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2020 data, 67 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 years old are up to date on their colorectal cancer screening. So, your practice’s adherence rate is on par with the national average.
Physicians use imaging examinations and minimally invasive methods to screen patients for colorectal cancer. The visual exams include colonoscopy, computed tomography (CT) colonography, and sigmoidoscopy procedures. On the other hand, the less invasive methods tend to involve stool samples where the provider analyzes the stool to look for blood or DNA to test for signs of cancer.
Another noninvasive test that entered the arena last year is Guardant Health’s Shield test. In a study published in 2024, researchers found that the first 20,000 patients who were offered the Shield test for colorectal cancer screening had a 90 percent adherence rate.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2024, the Shield test is a blood test that looks for markers of colon cancer from DNA that is released into the bloodstream. Healthcare providers can receive the results in approximately two weeks. If the results are positive, physicians can recommend additional testing, such as a colonoscopy.
Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC
