Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images
Cologuard is getting an upgrade soon.
An updated at-home screening test, called Cologuard Plus, is expected to be available in spring 2025.
Cologuard Plus is a more sensitive version of the originalCologuardthat was first approved in 2014.
Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images
The sample is then placed in a provided container and sent back to the company with a prepaid label.
Is Cologuard Plus Better Than the Original?
Unlike FIT, Cologuard screens for blood and genetic abnormalities.
All trial participants also underwent acolonoscopyto confirm the test results.
According to the trial results, Cologuard Plus detected 94% of cancers compared to 67% for FIT.
The spokesperson said Cologuard Plus may be as much as 30% more accurate than Cologuard.
The new test is also expected to have a lower rate of false positives than Cologuard.
Currently, the false positive rate for Cologuard is 13%, according to the company.
Importantly, the trial included people ages 40 and older.
Doctors generally order Cologuard tests, and the test kit is sent to the patient’s home.
Cologuard Plus is expected to be available by the end of June 2025.
Medicare coverage for Cologuard Plus has already been granted, according to the company.
Most insurance plans cover colorectal cancer screening with no co-pay under the Affordable Care Act.
When Should You Choose Cologuard Plus?
Each method has its benefits and drawbacks.
A colonoscopy, considered the gold standard, requires a liquid diet the day before to empty the bowel.
Patients must take time off work and arrange for someone to pick them up due to sedation.
For those who prefer a noninvasive option, stool-based tests like Cologuard and FIT offer at-home alternatives.
However, if the test results come back positive, a colonoscopy is still necessary to reduce cancer risk.
What This Means for You
Cologuard Plus is expected to hit the market by June 2025.
The company says the upgraded test may be 30% more accurate than the original Cologuard.
American Cancer Society.People ages 45-49 are not getting screened for colorectal cancer.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.Colorectal cancer: screening.
