Guardant Health Partners with LabFlorida to Expand Access to CRC Blood Test for Senior Living Communities

Guardant Health has partnered with LabFlorida/SunDx Labs to expand access to its Shield CRC blood test in senior living communities. Shield is the first blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer, which disproportionately affects older adults. The test detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood, making screening easy with a simple blood draw.

Guardant Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: GH) has announced a strategic partnership with LabFlorida/SunDx Labs to enhance access to its Shield™ CRC blood test in senior living communities across 20 states. The agreement aims to simplify colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for residents in assisted and independent living facilities, as well as residential care centers, by providing a non-invasive blood-based screening option.

Shield is the first blood test approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a primary screening tool for CRC, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. Guardant Health Expands Access to Shield CRC Blood Test to Senior Living Communities with LabFlorida Partnership^[1] With a 91 percent five-year survival rate if caught in early stages, CRC screening is crucial, yet one in three eligible adults over 50 do not complete recommended screening due to discomfort or inconvenience Exact Sciences Announces Exclusive License with Freenome for Blood-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests^[2]. For the one to two million individuals in senior living communities, routine screening is particularly critical as the risk of CRC increases with age .

The Shield test detects alterations associated with CRC in the blood, making it easy to administer with a simple blood draw. This non-invasive approach can help increase CRC screening rates and improve patient outcomes. Guardant Health's co-CEO, AmirAli Talasaz, noted, "Shield has the potential to redefine preventative healthcare for residents and has the power to increase screening rates and improve patient outcomes" .

LabFlorida/SunDx Labs, known for its concierge-style lab testing tailored for assisted and independent living and homebound patients, will serve as the exclusive distributor of Shield in senior centers in Florida. Ralph Nenna, VP of Business Development at LabFlorida/SunDx Labs, expressed pride in partnering with Guardant Health to bring the Shield test to senior living communities, stating, "The Shield test represents a game changer in early detection and preventive care – making CRC screening more accessible and comfortable for seniors" .

This collaboration underscores Guardant Health's commitment to increasing CRC screening rates and improving patient outcomes. The company's advanced blood and tissue tests, real-world data, and AI analytics have been transforming patient care and accelerating new cancer therapies since its inception in 2012. With the Shield test, Guardant Health continues to innovate in the precision oncology space.

Sources:
Guardant Health Expands Access to Shield CRC Blood Test to Senior Living Communities with LabFlorida Partnership^[1] American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
Exact Sciences Announces Exclusive License with Freenome for Blood-Based Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests^[2] American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
National Institute of Health. A Pilot Study to Examine Colorectal Cancer Screening in Two Assisted Living Communities. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3929156/
Business Wire. Guardant Health Expands Access to Shield CRC Blood Test to Senior Living Facilities. Retrieved from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250911601989/en/