Cologuard Discussion

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Patient prefers cologuard testing at this time

The following was discussed with the patient:

Cologuard facts about testing:

Sensitivity (true positive rate): This is the proportion of positive test results with those that have disease, the sensitivity of cologuard is per the stage of cancer:

—-stage 1: 90% (meaning it misses 10% of those that are positive with disease)

—stage 2: 100% (can accurately catch all disease at this stage)

— Stage 3: 90%  (misses 10% of those that actually have CRC)

— Stage 4 75% (misses 25% of those that actually have CRC)

Specificity (true negative rate): 87% overall specific. Meaning, this test can miss read and have false positives 13% of the time.

This information was discussed in detail with the patient and it was stated that I do recommend colonoscopy over cologuard for general screening of colon cancer.

It was also stated by me that if the patient has a positive cologuard they need to get a colonoscopy

I also mentioned that the above information means that they could have a false negative at the rates above, and also could have a false positive at the rates above.

Patient would prefer to move forward with cologuard testing

This information was taken from the cologuard site at the following link: https://www.cologuardhcp.com/about/clinical-offer#:~:text=Cologuard%20sensitivity%2C%20per%20stage%20of,%25%20(n%3D4).&text=Cologuard%20specificity%3A%2087%25%20overall%20specificity,and%20negative%20results%20on%20colonoscopy.

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