Table 1. USPSTP-recommended tests for screening for CRC.

Test	Patient population	Exam interval	Sensitivity CRC colorectal adenomas
Stool-based tests	Average risk
Guaiac Fecal Occult Blood Test	Average risk	Q1 y	CRC 37–79%
Fecal immunochemical test	Average risk	Q 1 y	CRC 73–88% Advanced adenomas 22–40%
Fecal immunochemical DNA test	Average risk	Q 1–3 y	CRC 92% Advanced adenomas 42%
Direct visualization tests
Colonoscopy	Average, moderate, and high risk	Q 1–10 y, depending on risk strata	Reference standard a
CT colonography	Average risk	Q 5 y	CRC >90% Adenomas (>6 mm) 67–98%
Flexible sigmoidoscopy (+/− FIT)	Average	Q 5–10 y	N/A due to incomplete colon visualization

Abbreviation: CRC, colorectal cancer.

Source: Adapted from Lin et al. ⁵

^a Reports from tandem colonoscopy studies suggest adenoma miss rate of 25%. ¹⁰