ACS guideline reaffirms Abbott leadership in noninvasive colorectal cancer screening
Rhea-AI Summary
Abbott (NYSE:ABT) announced that updated American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines reaffirm Cologuard and Cologuard Plus as preferred noninvasive options for average‑risk adults 45+ on a three‑year interval.
Abbott highlights strong test performance, real‑world adherence, and plans to commercialize a complementary blood‑based test pending FDA approval.
Positive
- ACS guideline reaffirms Cologuard and Cologuard Plus as preferred noninvasive CRC options
- Cologuard Plus detects 95% of colorectal cancers at 94% specificity in U.S. screening population
- Cologuard tests estimated to drive 77% of U.S. CRC screening participation increase from 2018–2021
- More than 23 million Cologuard tests used since first ACS guideline inclusion in 2014
- Modeling suggests Cologuard-first strategy could nearly double CRC detection and reduce costs
- Agreement to commercialize blood-based CRC test expands noninvasive portfolio, pending FDA approval
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – ABT
On the day this news was published, ABT declined 1.14%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26 | Cancer portfolio showcase | Positive | -0.8% | ASCO 2026 abstracts across early detection and screening technologies. |
| Apr 28 | FDA device clearance | Positive | +1.1% | FDA clearance and CE Mark for Ultreon 3.0 coronary imaging platform. |
| Apr 17 | Cancer test data | Positive | +1.4% | AACR data on Cancerguard multi-cancer early detection performance signals. |
| Apr 16 | Earnings and acquisition | Positive | -6.0% | Q1 2026 results, guidance, and completion of Exact Sciences acquisition. |
| Apr 09 | Health survey release | Neutral | -0.8% | Survey on U.S. adults’ views on chronic disease prevention and health confidence. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Cancer-diagnostics and device wins often saw modest positive moves, while broader corporate updates like earnings and portfolio showcases sometimes coincided with weakness.
Over the past two months, Abbott reported several oncology and device milestones. On Apr 16, 1Q26 results and the Exact Sciences acquisition update coincided with a -6% move. Subsequent cancer-test data at AACR on Apr 17 and FDA clearance for Ultreon 3.0 on Apr 28 aligned with gains of 1.4% and 1.14%. By May 26, an ASCO-focused portfolio showcase saw shares down 0.85%. Today’s ACS guideline news continues the cancer-screening narrative built around Cologuard and broader early-detection efforts.
Key Terms
noninvasive colorectal cancer (crc) screening medical
u.s. preventive services task force regulatory
specificity medical
hedis technical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- Cologuard® and Cologuard Plus® reaffirmed as preferred options for noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in updated American Cancer Society guideline
- Abbott to offer only CRC screening portfolio aligned to new ACS recommendations combining preferred stool-based plus additional blood-based options
- Recent publications support Cologuard-first strategy, demonstrating better outcomes for patients, providers, health systems, and payers
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., May 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that the American Cancer Society (ACS) has released updated colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines that reaffirm Cologuard® and Cologuard Plus® as preferred noninvasive screening options for adults age 45 and older who are at average risk for CRC. Both tests are used at a three-year interval.
Cologuard and Cologuard Plus are preferred,
"Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early – survivable in about
Abbott Uniquely Positioned to Expand Screening in Line with ACS Guideline
With the proven performance and broad adoption of Cologuard and Cologuard Plus, alongside Abbott's agreement to commercialize a blood-based test from Freenome, pending FDA approval, Abbott is uniquely positioned across the spectrum of noninvasive CRC screening. Upon approval, Abbott will launch the blood-based test with a seamless ordering experience designed to expand participation among individuals who decline other screening methods. Cologuard tests will continue to serve as preferred first-line screening options to help drive optimal outcomes. Both tests will leverage Abbott's Nexus platform, which helps providers identify patients who are not up to date on CRC screening and improve adherence over time.
Proven CRC Screening Impact of Cologuard Enters New Era with Cologuard Plus
Cologuard tests have transformed colorectal cancer screening, driving an estimated
This impact is further reinforced by peer-reviewed modeling studies. One recently published analysis found that a Cologuard-first screening approach could nearly double CRC detection, prevent more cancers through the detection and removal of precancerous lesions, and reduce CRC-related costs while allowing colonoscopy capacity to focus on follow-up and therapeutic procedures.7 A separate modeling study suggests that Cologuard Plus, when used at guideline-recommended intervals, could detect more cancers and precancerous lesions, reduce mortality, and deliver substantially more life-years gained over 10 years than a single screening colonoscopy.8 These outcomes were driven by strong test performance and high adherence to both initial screening and follow-up colonoscopy.
"The updated ACS guideline reinforces the importance of screening approaches that combine strong clinical performance with the ability to reach more patients," said Paul Limburg, M.D., chief medical officer, screening, Abbott's cancer diagnostics business. "With Cologuard and Cologuard Plus established as preferred first-line screening options, Abbott is well-positioned across both stool- and blood-based approaches to help close persistent screening gaps and improve outcomes in colorectal cancer."
ACS is a leading cancer advocacy organization that develops evidence-based guidelines to inform clinicians, policymakers and the public, helping shape cancer prevention, screening, and early detection practices.
About the Cologuard and Cologuard Plus tests
Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the Cologuard and Cologuard Plus tests are first-line, noninvasive colorectal cancer (CRC) screening options for adults aged 45 or older who are at average risk for the disease. The Cologuard test revolutionized CRC screening by detecting specific DNA markers and blood in stool associated with cancer and precancer, allowing patients to complete the collection kit at home without special preparation or time off, and return the kit to the lab for results. It is also the only noninvasive molecular CRC screening test recommended by USPSTF (2021), and both Cologuard and Cologuard Plus are included in HEDIS® quality measures and the ACS guidelines (2026).
Building on this success, the FDA-approved Cologuard Plus test features novel biomarkers, improved laboratory processes, and enhanced sample stability. Through high performance, the Cologuard Plus test is designed to reduce the likelihood of false positives, helping to minimize unnecessary follow-up colonoscopies. Further, Cologuard Plus is the only noninvasive test FDA-approved for both cancer and precancer detection. Both tests demonstrate Abbott's commitment to improving CRC screening access and outcomes.
Cologuard and Cologuard Plus rely exclusively on molecular data from the patient sample – not subjective patient-reported risk factors – reducing variability, improving accuracy, and enabling faster results.
About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with us at abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
*
† Dr. Xavier Llor previously served as a principal investigator on a study with Exact Sciences, which is now Abbott. He was not compensated for media work.
- Davidson KW, Barry MJ, Mangione CM, et al. Screening for colorectal cancer - US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2021;325(19):1965-1977.
- Cologuard Plus™ Clinician Brochure.
Madison, WI : Exact Sciences Corporation. - Ebner DW, Finney Rutten LJ, Miller-
Wilson LA , et al. Trends in colorectal cancer screening from the National Health Interview Survey: Analysis of the impact of different modalities on overall screening rates. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2024; 17(6):275-280. - Data on file. Exact Sciences Corporation;
Madison , WI. Cologuard Tests Completed. [CL-000581]. 2026. - Le QA, Greene M, Gohill S, et al. Adherence to multi-target stool DNA testing for colorectal cancer screening in the United States. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2025;40:16.
- Greene M, Stieber B, LeMaster JW, et al. Closing the loop in colorectal cancer screening: real-world adherence to follow-up colonoscopy after positive mt-sDNA vs FIT/FOBT, stratified by payer type. Curr Med Res Opin. 2025;41(9):1629-1639.
- Fendrick AM, Kurlander JE, Vahdat V, Estes C, Gohil S, Limburg PJ, Lieberman DA. Optimizing colonoscopy capacity to maximize colorectal cancer outcomes. Gastro Hep Adv. 2026. doi: 10.1016/j.gastha.2026.100930.
- Dore M, Ebner DW, Vahdat V, Estes C, Ozbay AB, Foster V, Limburg PJ. Model-based evaluation of colorectal cancer screening effectiveness: three rounds of multitarget stool DNA testing versus one colonoscopy. J Med Econ. 2026;29(1):986-993. doi:10.1080/13696998.2026.2645491
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SOURCE Abbott