The American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to reaffirm Abbott's (NYSE: ABT) Cologuard and Cologuard Plus tests as preferred noninvasive screening options for adults age 45 and older at average risk for colorectal cancer, according to a company statement.

Both tests are recommended for use at three-year intervals. Cologuard Plus detects 95% of colorectal cancers at 94% specificity when age-weighted to the U.S. screening population, the company stated.

Abbott announced it will offer a colorectal cancer screening portfolio aligned with the new ACS recommendations, combining stool-based tests with blood-based options. The company has an agreement to commercialize a blood-based test from Freenome, pending FDA approval.

"Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when caught early – survivable in about 90% of cases – and is even preventable when pre-cancers are found and removed. But still, up to 60 million eligible Americans remain unscreened," said Dr. Xavier Llor, professor of medicine and director of the GI and Pancreatic Cancer Prevention Program at Yale School of Medicine.

Cologuard tests have been used more than 23 million times since being first included in ACS guidelines in 2014. The company stated the tests drove an estimated 77% of the nationwide increase in colorectal cancer screening participation from 2018 to 2021.

Developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the Cologuard test detects DNA markers and blood in stool associated with cancer and precancer. Cologuard Plus is FDA-approved for both cancer and precancer detection and features novel biomarkers and improved laboratory processes.

Abbott operates in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines across more than 160 countries with 122,000 employees.