Offering a Blood Test as a Secondary Option Boosts CRC Screening by Nearly Twofold
A recent study has revealed that providing a blood test as a secondary option significantly enhances colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, found that offering a blood test in addition to the standard stool-based screening method increased CRC screening uptake by nearly twofold. The researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial involving over 1,500 participants, who were randomly assigned to either the stool-based test alone or the stool-based test with the option of a blood test. The group offered the blood test as a secondary option had a considerably higher screening participation rate compared to the group with only the stool-based test. These findings suggest that offering multiple screening methods, such as the blood test, can improve CRC screening rates and ultimately help detect colorectal cancer at an earlier stage.