Cologuard

The Cologuard testing kit for colon and rectal cancer must be ordered by your health care provider. It will be sent by mail to your address. You collect the sample at home and send it back to the lab for testing. The Cologuard testing kit will contain a sample container, a tube, preserving liquid, labels, and…

The Cologuard test does not require any preparation. You do not need to change your diet or medicines before the test.

The test requires you to have a normal bowel movement. It will not feel any different from your regular bowel movements. You can collect the sample at your home privately.

The test is done to screen for colon and rectal cancer and abnormal growths (polyps) in the colon or rectum. Your provider may suggest Cologuard testing once every 1 to 3 years starting at age 45 years. The test is recommended if you are age 45 to 75 years and have an average risk of colon cancer. This means that you…

The normal result (negative result) will indicate that: The test did not detect blood cells or altered DNA in your stool. You do not need further testing for colon cancer if you have an average risk of colon or rectal cancer.

Abnormal result (positive result) suggests that the test found some pre-cancer or cancer cells in your stool sample. However, the Cologuard test does not diagnose cancer. You will need further tests to make a diagnosis of cancer. Your provider will likely suggest a colonoscopy .

There is no risk involved in taking the sample for Cologuard test. Screening tests carry a small risk of: False-positives (your test results are abnormal, but you do NOT have colon cancer or pre-malignant polyps) False-negatives (your test is normal, even when you have colon cancer)

It is unclear yet whether the use of Cologuard will lead to better outcomes compared with other methods used to screen for colon and rectal cancer.

Bresalier RS. Colorectal cancer. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 127. Eckmann JD, Ebner DW, Bering J, et al, eds. Multitarget stool DNA screening in clinical practice: high positive predictive value…