ARUP Laboratories, a US-based national reference laboratory, has developed a blood-based test for identifying patients with previously undetected colorectal cancer.
Designed as an alternative to colonoscopy, the Septin 9 methylated DNA test measures if colorectal tumor DNA is present in a patient's bloodstream.
The method has 90% overall sensitivity and 88% specificity in detecting colorectal cancer in patients of all stages, claims the company.
ARUP Laboratories president and CEO Edward Ashwood said the test ensures that everyone including the centers' special populations has an option for colorectal cancer screening.
"Even conservative organizations, such as the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force and the American Academy of Family Practice, recommend colon cancer screening," Ashwood added.
ARUP offers more than 3,000 tests and test combinations including routine screening tests as well as esoteric molecular and genetic assays.
