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Cancer research

COVID-19 Pandemic Accelerates Shift to At-Home Stool Tests for Colorectal Cancer Screening

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift to at-home stool tests for colorectal cancer screening, particularly among patients with limited access to healthcare facilities. Research from Stanford University has analyzed the use of stool tests before and after the pandemic, revealing significant changes in screening rates and patient behavior. The study, published in BMJ Public Health, highlights the importance of repeated testing after an initial screening and underscores the need for programs to increase colorectal cancer screening uptake.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed a sample of 403,085 patients from a healthcare system with 51 hospitals and over 1,000 clinics across seven western US states.
  • The share of patients with an initial negative stool test who received a repeat screening ranged from 38% to 49% across different years.
  • Among patients who received a repeat screening, there was an average delay of 3 months.
  • The volume of stool tests increased during the pandemic, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.20, p<0.001) compared to before the pandemic.
  • The increase in stool tests during the pandemic is partly due to a substitution away from colonoscopies, underscoring the increasing importance of stool tests in CRC screening.
  • Programs aimed at increasing CRC screening uptake should focus on repeated testing after an initial screening.

Statistics:

  • 403,085 patients were included in the study.
  • The share of patients with an initial negative stool test who received a repeat screening ranged from 38% to 49% across different years.
  • The average delay in repeat screening among patients who received a repeat screening was 3 months.
  • The hazard ratio (HR) of screening after the onset of the pandemic compared to before the pandemic was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.20, p<0.001).
  • The volume of stool tests increased during the pandemic by 18% (HR: 1.18).

Sources:

  • Longitudinal retrospective study of real-world adherence to colorectal cancer screening before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA. BMJ Public Health, 2025,3(1).
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1136/bmjph-2024-001734
  • NewsRx. Data on COVID-19 Detailed by Researchers at Stanford University (Longitudinal retrospective study of real-world adherence to colorectal cancer screening before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA). Gastroenterology Week. July 14, 2025; p 55.

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