A new real-world study of 20,000 patients has found that Guardant Health’s Shield blood test achieved an impressive 95% adherence rate for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening — far higher than traditional colonoscopy or stool-based tests (25–71%). Published in Current Medical Research and Opinion, the findings reinforce Shield’s role as the first FDA-approved blood test for CRC screening in average-risk adults aged 45 and older.
In an additional study from Appalachia, one of the nation’s lowest screening regions, overall screening rates doubled from 45% to 90% when Shield was introduced, with 98.5% adherence.
By offering a simple blood draw instead of invasive procedures, Shield could help close one of the biggest gaps in cancer prevention — screening compliance. According to Guardant’s CMO Dr. Craig Eagle, Shield is emerging as “an accessible and pleasant option for both physicians and patients,” potentially transforming early detection of the second leading cause of U.S. cancer deaths.