Comparing Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Performance and Prep Options

In this episode, ‘Comparing Colorectal Cancer Screening Test Performance and Prep Options,’ the panelists review the performance characteristics of available colorectal cancer screening modalities, including colonoscopy, FIT, multi-target stool DNA, RNA-based tests, and blood-based assays. The faculty compare sensitivity and specificity across tests, emphasizing that colonoscopy remains the most sensitive and uniquely therapeutic option. They highlight variability in FIT performance depending on assay type and cutoff thresholds, underscoring the importance of understanding which test is being used. Advances in next-generation stool DNA testing are discussed, with improved sensitivity and specificity compared to earlier versions. The conversation also addresses practical considerations such as bowel preparation options, patient adherence, and tailoring prep regimens to comorbidities to optimize both safety and diagnostic quality.

The next episode in this series, ‘Overcoming Barriers and Advancing Precision in Colorectal Cancer Screening,’ features expert faculty reviewing the barriers to colorectal cancer screening uptake, the evolving role of blood- and DNA-based testing, and the ongoing discussions around precision risk stratification and potentially lowering the screening age amid rising early-onset disease globally.