Cologuard Test vs Colonoscopy

Cologuard is the recently Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved stool deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) screening test for detecting colon cancer. The Colorguard test is different from a colonoscopy because you can do it at home and you do not need to prepare by fasting or discontinuing medications before or after the test.

Cologuard is the recently Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved凳子deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) screening test for detectingcolon cancer. Your凳子contains cells shed from thelarge intestine(colon). The test looks for changes in the DNA (cellular gene code) in these cells. It can detect the presence of coloncancerorprecancerouspolyps in your colon by identifying specific changes in your stool DNA.

Cologuard is becoming the most sought-after screening test forcolon cancer and polyps. It is a noninvasive test that can be performed at home conveniently as compared to a traditionalcolonoscopytest. People have started thinking of the test as an option for colonoscopy.

To perform the Cologuard test, you first need to fill out the form on the official Cologuard website. They will direct you to a doctor who may or may not prescribe you the test based on your history. You can also get the prescription for the test from your primary physician.

The test kit contains

• A container that you can attach to the toilet for collecting stool.
• A tube to collect the stool sample.
• A preservation solution to put in the stool sample.

Once you collect the stool sample in the tube and add the preservation solution to it, you will close the tube tightly and submit to your physician’s office or mail it to the designated laboratory.

The benefits that make the Cologuard test so popular include

• You can perform the test at home. Your waiting time at the hospital and for the actual screening test is reduced.
• Your doctor may hold off on a colonoscopy for you if the Cologuard test comes back negative.
• You do not need to prepare specifically for the Cologuard test. You do not need to fast or discontinue any medications before or after the test.

But before you decide to forego a colonoscopy and opt for a Cologuard test, there are some reasons why colonoscopy remains the best test for coloncanceror polyps.

*False-negative result: The test may come back negative even if there are precancerous lesions or polyps in the colon. False-positive result: The test may come back positive even if you do not have precancerous lesions or polyps in the colon.

The Cologuard test is a potential first-line screening test for cancer. If it is positive, your doctor will ask you to undergo a colonoscopy. If the test is negative, your doctor will discuss the various options for you, which include whether you should have a colonoscopy or not.