The answers you need
About the test
The Cancerguard test is a single blood-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test. It detects signals in the blood that may be found in many types of cancer, when cancer may be more treatable—especially for some types of cancer that have no other routine screening method.
When cancer isn’t found at an early stage, it will continue to grow and may spread to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat. Finding cancer early, before it spreads, may help increase the chances of treating and potentially surviving cancer.
The Cancerguard test looks for multiple signals associated with cancer in the blood. A program then calculates if cancer may be present and delivers a positive or negative result. If there is a positive signal detected, imaging (radiology) scans and other medical tests are typically needed to locate and confirm diagnosis.
You may be offered this test if:
- You’re between the ages of 50-84
- You haven’t had a cancer diagnosis in the last 3 years
- A healthcare provider determines you are an appropriate patient for the test
No. This test does not confirm the presence, type, or stage of cancer. After a positive Cancerguard test, follow-up imaging (radiology) scans and other medical tests are needed to locate and confirm the presence of cancer. If cancer is present, further evaluation will be needed to determine the type and stage.
The self-pay price of the Cancerguard test is $689. Pricing is subject to change at any time.
Taking the test
The Cancerguard test is a blood test performed on samples collected through a blood draw. Blood samples are sent to the laboratory for testing to look for signals in the blood that may be found in many types of cancer.
You don’t need to do anything special to prepare for the test.
You should have your blood drawn at a laboratory/phlebotomy location associated with your clinic or healthcare system.
The test results will be available and sent to your healthcare provider in about 2 weeks after our laboratory receives your blood samples.
Call your healthcare provider if you want to cancel the test. Your provider will need to contact Exact Sciences. If your blood sample has already been shipped to Exact Sciences, the test is considered in the process, and it may not be possible for it to be cancelled.
Yes. It is important to keep up to date with your other routine screening tests. Tests like mammograms, colonoscopies, or stool-based colorectal cancer screening tests have been proven to help detect cancer earlier. Using the Cancerguard test with other routine cancer screening tests together may help expand the types of cancer that may be found through screening.
Results
Not every cancer will give off enough signals for the test to detect, which means that a negative result doesn’t guarantee you’re cancer-free. The Cancerguard test can’t rule out cancer of any kind. You should continue all routine cancer screening tests recommended by your healthcare provider.
Yes. The Cancerguard™ test can’t rule out cancer of any kind. Some cancers do not give off signals that can be detected by the test. If the Cancerguard test doesn’t find cancer but the patient does have cancer, that’s called a “false negative.” You should continue with all routine cancer screening tests recommended by your healthcare provider. The Cancerguard test may be offered as part of your routine care.
A positive result means that the blood test identified a cancer signal that may indicate the presence of cancer. It is not a diagnosis and does not confirm that you have cancer. Imaging (radiology) scans and other medical tests are typically needed to locate and confirm a cancer diagnosis.
Yes. If the Cancerguard™ test found a cancer signal in your blood sample, but you don’t actually have cancer, that’s called a “false positive.”
Follow up
Yes. Exact Sciences offers Positive Result Support that consists of two parts. Care Navigation and an Imaging Reimbursement Program. Care Navigation is designed to help guide you through the next steps for follow-up care. The Imaging Reimbursement Program is intended to help reduce the financial impact of non-covered imaging costs for eligible patients who need to undergo follow-up imaging after receiving a positive Cancerguard test. Patients must apply. Eligibility depends on program qualifications and is not guaranteed. The program will not reimburse any covered imaging costs, including copay, coinsurance, and/or deductible amounts determined by insurance.
Exact Sciences partners with a third party Care Navigation team, Health Advocate that can help with the following services:
- Help with identifying available options for where to go for next steps, such as imaging (radiology) scans
- Assistance with scheduling necessary follow-up appointments
- Help assess and address barriers to completing follow-up imaging (radiology) scans
- Provide eligibility details for our imaging patient reimbursement program
Your healthcare provider may consider a variety of testing options and will choose what is most appropriate based on your individual circumstance.
Coverage for these tests may vary by insurance and health plans. When you discuss your next steps with your provider, ask them for coverage information. You can also contact your insurance company directly.
If follow-up imaging tests or other medical tests find cancer or other significant findings, your healthcare team will work with you on next steps and help create a treatment plan that makes sense for your specific situation.
If follow-up tests do not show cancer or significant findings, the Cancerguard test may have given a false positive result. A false positive result is when the test finds a cancer signal, but cancer is not detected with follow-up testing. You should continue to follow the care plan and advice of your healthcare provider. It’s important to stay up to date with all other routine cancer screening tests recommended by your healthcare provider.
Your healthcare provider can discuss your cancer screening plan with you. But if you’d like to find out more about the Cancerguard™ test, you can reach a specialist at
Footnotes and references
- Check with HSA/FSA administrator to determine eligibility.
- Lennon AM, Buchanan AH, Kinde I, et al. Feasibility of blood testing combined with PET-CT to screen for cancer and guide intervention. Science. 2020;369(6499):eabb9601.
- Data on file. Cancerguard Test development study. 2025. Exact Sciences, Madison, WI.
- The Cancer Atlas. Early Detection. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://canceratlas.cancer.org/taking-action/early-detection/.
Important Information about the Cancerguard Test
Rx only. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if this test is right for you.
The Cancerguard™ test is indicated for use in adults ages 50-84 with no known cancer diagnosis in the last three years. It detects alterations in circulating tumor DNA and tumor-associated protein levels which are commonly associated with cancer. The test does not detect all cancers and is not a replacement for existing recommended cancer screening or diagnostic modalities for cancer. Current recommended screening for cancer should also be followed. The test is not indicated for screening of breast and prostate cancer and was not evaluated for the detection of pre-cancerous lesions. Due to the potential for follow-up imaging with IV contrast CT after a positive test result, careful consideration should be given before ordering the Cancerguard test for patients with a history of adverse reactions to iodine based IV contrast or for women who are, may be, or plan to become pregnant. Results should be interpreted in the context of a patient’s medical history, clinical signs, and symptoms. A negative result does not rule out the presence of cancer of any type. A positive Cancerguard™ test result means that the blood test identified a cancer signal that may indicate the presence of cancer. This result alone does not confirm the presence of cancer. Further clinical evaluation by a healthcare provider (which may include blood tests such as complete blood count and comprehensive metabolic panel) and follow-up imaging are needed to locate and confirm a diagnosis of cancer or determine that cancer is not present. While there are no established guidelines for imaging following a positive Cancerguard test result, there is a published follow-up workflow based on expert clinician opinion and results from an exploratory, prospective, interventional study [Kisiel et al Life (Basel) 2024 Jul 24; Lennon et al, Science, 2020]. The proposed workflow in the Kisiel et al publication includes an intravenous-contrast enhanced computed tomography (IV contrast CT of chest, abdomen/pelvis, and soft-tissue neck) and if necessary, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F FDG PET-CT) from the skull-base to mid-thigh. Alternative follow-up procedures (e.g. targeted imaging, endoscopic procedures, CT without IV- contrast) may be appropriate in the context of the patient’s medical history and clinical evaluation [Lennon et al, Science, 2020]. False positive and false negative test results can occur.
The Cancerguard test was developed, and the performance characteristics validated by Exact Sciences Laboratories following College of American Pathologists (CAP) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations. This test has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The test is performed at Exact Sciences Laboratories. Exact Sciences Laboratories is accredited by CAP, certified under CLIA regulations, and qualified to perform high-complexity clinical laboratory testing.