Health Research

Sep 25 2007

Underused Colon Cancer Screening Test is Effective, May Help Improve Colon Cancer Screening Rates

A colon cancer screening test that is readily available in the United States, but underused, detects colorectal cancer and may help to improve colon cancer screening rates, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published Sept. 25 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Fecal immunochemical tests look for human blood in the stool and are more effective at detecting cancers and polyps than guaiac tests, which are older and more widely used stool screening tests, according to a study conducted by investigators and gastroenterologist clinicians at Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Division of Research.

Investigators and clinicians compared the performance of fecal immunochemical tests and a sensitive guaiac test in 5,841 people with an average risk for colorectal cancer. Investigators looked at the tests’ ability to detect colorectal cancers and polyps in people with the disease (sensitivity), and the tests’ ability to determine which people do not have the disease (specificity).

The fecal immunochemical test had a sensitivity of 81.8 percent for detecting colorectal cancers and a specificity of 96.9 percent. The guaiac test was 64.3 percent sensitive for detecting colorectal cancers and 90.1 percent specific.

For details, read this news release.