CRC SCREENING GUIDELINES

The Cologuard® test is included in major colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines and quality measures1-9

The USPSTF and ACS recommend CRC screening starting at age 451,2*†

Screening guidelines recommend a 3-year screening interval following a negative Cologuard result1,2‡

Receive 3 years of Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) quality credit

As of 2023, you will receive 3 years of HEDIS® quality credit for screening eligible adults 45-49, in addition to adults 50+, for CRC with the Cologuard test10


Cologuard box.

Sign up for Cologuard updates

Get the latest information about CRC screening and the Cologuard test sent directly to your inbox.

Screening Guidelines

Hear what Dr Paul Limburg, Chief Medical Officer, at Exact Sciences, has to say about USPSTF CRC screening recommendations.



  • * The USPSTF found adequate evidence that screening eligible patients aged 45 to 49 years provides a moderate benefit in reducing CRC deaths and increasing life-years gained. USPSTF-recommended screening modalities include stool-based tests or direct visualization tests.1
  • The ACS makes a qualified recommendation for screening in eligible patients aged 45 to 49 years, indicating clear evidence of benefit of screening but less certainty about the balance of benefits, harms, and patient preferences. ACS-recommended screening modalities include high-sensitivity stool-based tests or structural (visual) examinations.2
  • The USPSTF-recommended screening frequency for sDNA-FIT is every 1 to 3 years. The ACS-recommended screening interval for mt-sDNA is every 3 years.1,2
  • § sDNA (ie, the Cologuard test) is one of the methods permitted for patients at average risk aged 45 to 75 years as part of the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) HEDIS® quality measures for colon cancer screening. Third-party guidelines and quality measures do not specifically “endorse” commercial products, and inclusion in same does not imply otherwise. HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).3