Blood-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening: Implementation Into 2 Appalachian Primary Care Clinics

Introduction

Colorectal cancer is a serious health concern in the U.S. and worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer mortality. Appalachia ranks low in screening for colorectal cancer and correspondingly higher in incident and mortality rates than other regions of the U.S. This study aimed to determine whether offering a blood-based test to screen for colorectal cancer would result in increased rates of screening for colorectal cancer.

Methods

Colorectal cancer screening rates were measured in 2 primary care clinics over two 3-month phases. In Phase 1, physicians conducted colorectal cancer screening with standard-of-care options only (n=74). Phase 2 differed by offering blood-based test along with standard-of-care options (n=165). The study objective was to see whether offering a blood-based test would (1) increase the overall rate of screening and (2) prove to be a preferred method of screening compared with standard-of-care options. Data were gathered and evaluated in 2024.

Results

There was a large observed increase in overall completed screening rates when comparing Phase 1 (n=33) with Phase 2 (n=151). In addition, in Phase 2, the blood-based test option was a strong preference to standard of care (standard of care, n=29; blood-based test, n=134) with this sample group.

Conclusions

The availability of a blood-based test as one option for routine colorectal cancer screening in adults with average risk for colorectal cancer had a clear positive impact on overall screening rates, completion rates, and patient preference to standard-of-care options.