The FDA has approved a new blood-based test for colorectal cancer screening — the kind of simple blood draw that could pull more people into getting checked.
Approved on July 27, 2026, Freenome's SimpleScreen CRC test (to be commercialized in the U.S. by Abbott) is intended for adults 45 and older at average risk. It joins Guardant Health's earlier Shield test in a fast-growing category.
How well it works
In its supporting data, SimpleScreen detected colorectal cancer with 81.1% sensitivity and had 90.4% specificity for advanced disease. The important weakness: it caught only 13.7% of advanced precancerous lesions — the polyps that colonoscopy can find and remove before they ever become cancer.
Why it matters — and the caveat
Roughly a third of eligible Americans aren't up to date on colorectal screening, often because stool tests and colonoscopy prep are off-putting. A blood test is far easier, and easier tests get done. But regulators and doctors are clear: these blood tests are not a replacement for colonoscopy, especially given the low detection of precancerous polyps. They're best seen as a bridge for people who would otherwise skip screening entirely. This article is general information, not medical advice.