U.S. greenlights 1st blood test for colon cancer. How does it work?

U.S. wellness regulators connected Monday approved a first-of-its-kind humor trial for colon cancer, offering a caller measurement of screening for a starring origin of crab deaths.

Test shaper Guardant said nan Food and Drug Administration approved its Shield trial for screening successful adults 45 and older who person an mean consequence of colon cancer. The trial isn’t a replacement for colonoscopies, but provides a noninvasive attack to screening.

Doctors tin already bid Shield for patients arsenic a laboratory trial pinch an out-of-pocket value of $895. But FDA support is expected to summation sum by backstage and authorities insurance.

The trial looks for DNA fragments shed by tumor cells and precancerous growths. In a study published successful March, nan trial caught 83% of nan cancers but very fewer of nan precancerous growths recovered by colonoscopy, nan golden modular for colon crab screening. The trial missed 17% of cancers, capacity that is connected par pinch stool-based tests.

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Besides spotting tumors, colonoscopies tin forestall nan illness by removing precancerous growths called polyps.

But immoderate group debar nan exam because of nan hassle of getting clip disconnected activity aliases nan day-ahead mentation that involves drinking a beardown laxative to quiet nan bowels. In nan U.S., screening is recommended for patient adults ages 45 to 75 astatine mean consequence for colon cancer.

Physicians will beryllium capable to tally nan Shield trial aft taking a elemental humor draw, Guardant said successful a statement. The institution plans to motorboat its merchandise “in nan adjacent future.”

The yearly complaint of U.S. colon crab screening is astir 60%, good short of nan 80% of age-eligible adults extremity group by nan American Cancer Society and different groups.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from nan Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for each content.