Now available: the Cancerguard™ multi-cancer early detection test
Screen for more than 50 types and subtypes of cancer before symptoms appear. The Cancerguard™ test is a blood test designed to be used as a supplement to existing screening programs — all it takes is a simple blood draw.
Expanding Cancer Screening with the Cancerguard™ Test
We are proud to offer the Cancerguard™ test: a new option to complement current cancer screening programs.
The tests currently recommended for routine cancer screening — such as mammography or colonoscopy — screen for only one type of cancer at a time.¹⁻³*
The Cancerguard™ test is a new option that expands cancer screening beyond existing methods. Using a simple blood sample, it detects markers associated with many types of cancer¹.
The Cancerguard™ test is a supplement to your routine screening protocols. It is not intended to replace them.
Avantages pour vos cadres et employés
Prévention et détection précoce
Identifier les problèmes de santé avant qu’ils ne deviennent graves.
Approche centrée sur la famille
Nous pouvons aider et accompagner leurs enfants, leurs conjoint(e)s, leurs parents et tous leurs proches dans le besoin.
Toutes les expertises sous le même toit
Médecine d'urgence, médecine familiale, médecins spécialistes, imagerie, laboratoire, tout est disponible dans notre complexe médical 3.0
Efficacité et gain de temps
Nous offrons une approche intégrée, où tous les tests et consultations peuvent être réalisés au même endroit, avec des résultats ultra rapides.
Examples of cancers detected using the Cancerguard™ test
Cancers for which there are no recommended screening programs account for more than 60% of new cases diagnosed and deaths in Canada each year*.
The Cancerguard™ test looks for signs of cancer in the blood. It helps detect markers associated with more than 50 types and subtypes of cancer, including cancers that are not part of routine screening:
- Lungs and Bronchi
- Breast†
- Colon and Rectum
- Uterus
- Kidney
- Head and Neck
- Pancreas
- Prostate†
- Cervix
- Bladder and Urinary Tract
- Stomach
- Esophagus
- Liver and Bile Duct
- Ovary
- Anus
- Thyroid
- Vulva
- Small intestine
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Testicles
The Cancerguard™ test can help detect markers associated with these cancers before symptoms appear.
The good time to learn more about the Cancerguard™ test
You can request information about the Cancerguard™ test if you are in any of the following situations:
- You take a proactive approach to your health
- You have risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, or obesity, or you are over 50 years old
- You were diagnosed with cancer more than 3 years ago
- You have a family history of cancer
The test’s performance characteristics were established in adults aged 50 to 84 who had not been diagnosed with cancer during the three years prior to the test. Clinical efficacy has not been established in other populations.
This test is not recommended for people who have had cancer in the past three years or for pregnant women‡. Furthermore, it does not replace recommended screening programs for cancers such as breast, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancers3.
The Cancerguard™ test may also be considered for individuals with hereditary risk factors, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations or Lynch syndrome⁶,⁷. Expanded screening may also be beneficial for cancer survivors diagnosed at least three years ago, as up to one in six survivors will develop a second primary cancer, and these rates are on the rise⁸.
How does the Cancerguard™ test work?
1. Make an appointment with a doctor at the clinic
To check if you are eligible to take this test.
2. Provide a blood sample
A nurse from our team will draw a blood sample. No special preparation is usually necessary.
3. Research on Biomarkers
Your blood sample is sent to Exact Sciences (now Abbott) for analysis of circulating tumor DNA and certain tumor-associated proteins. The test looks for abnormalities that may indicate the presence of cancer.
4. Results after about three weeks
The results will be available in about three weeks. You will review the report with your primary care physician, who will help you interpret the results and determine the next steps.
Are you interested in the Cancerguard™?
Let us know you’re interested during your next visit, or schedule an appointment.
You can also discuss this option with your doctor during your next checkup.
LEGEND
* Types of cancer for which there are recommended screening guidelines: breast, cervix, colon and rectum, and lung (high risk).
† The Cancerguard™ test is not indicated for the screening of breast or prostate cancer, but it can detect markers of these cancers. The performance characteristics for other types of cancer that might be detected by the test are unknown. This test is not a substitute for the currently recommended methods for cancer screening or diagnosis.
‡ Since a positive result may be followed by a CT scan using a contrast agent administered intravenously (i.v.), careful consideration is warranted before ordering the Cancerguard™ test for patients who have previously experienced adverse reactions to an iodinated contrast agent administered intravenously (i.v.), or in cases of confirmed, suspected, or planned pregnancy.
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REFERENCES
1. Cancerguard Clinical Brochure – Canadian Version. Exact Sciences Corporation. 2. Statistics Canada. Health Fact Sheets: Screening Tests for Colorectal, Cervical, and Breast Cancer, 2024. Available at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/fr/pub/82-625-x/2025001/article/00002-fra.pdf?st=Vo2Wi7Cs. Accessed May 19, 2026. 3. Government of Canada. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Cancer Screening. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/services/avantages-militaires/sante-soutien/depistage-du-cancer/foire-questions.html. Accessed May 19, 2026. 4. Chaput G, et al. Cancer screening in Canada: What’s in, what’s out, what’s coming. Can Fam Physician. 2021;67(1):27–29. 5. Internal data. Exact Sciences Corporation; Madison, Wisconsin. Subtype analysis [REF-01115]. 2025. 6. Kumerow MT, et al. Prev Med. 2022;159:107062. 7. Hampel H, et al. Genet Med. 2015;17(1):70–87. 8. Sung JJ, Ahn AR, Park HS, et al. Incidence and pattern of second primary cancer in patients diagnosed with primary cancer. Oncol Lett. 2024;28(3):535.
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SAFETY INFORMATION
Important Information About the Cancerguard™ Test
Prescription only. Consult your healthcare provider to determine if this test is right for you.
The Cancerguard™ test is intended for use in adults aged 50 to 84 who have not been diagnosed with cancer in the past three years. It detects alterations often associated with cancer in circulating tumor DNA and levels of tumor protein markers. The test does not detect markers for all cancers and does not replace the recommended standard procedures for cancer screening or diagnosis. The currently recommended cancer screening protocol must also be followed. The test is not indicated for detecting markers associated with breast cancer or prostate cancer and has not been evaluated for the detection of precancerous lesions. Since a positive result may be followed by a computed tomography (CT) scan using an intravenous (IV) contrast agent, careful consideration is warranted before ordering the Cancerguard™ test for patients who have previously experienced adverse reactions to an IV iodine-based contrast agent, or in cases of confirmed, suspected, or planned pregnancy.
The patient’s medical history, clinical signs, and symptoms must be taken into account when interpreting the results. A negative result does not rule out the presence of cancer, regardless of the type. A positive result on the Cancerguard™ test means that the blood test detected a cancer marker that may indicate the presence of cancer. This result alone is not sufficient to confirm the presence of cancer. A healthcare professional will need to conduct a more thorough clinical evaluation (which may include blood tests such as a complete blood count and a comprehensive metabolic panel). In addition, follow-up medical imaging tests are necessary to locate a cancer and confirm a diagnosis, or to determine that cancer is not present. Although no guidelines have been established for performing imaging tests following a positive Cancerguard™ test result, there is a published follow-up protocol based on the opinions of expert clinicians and the results of a prospective exploratory intervention study (Kisiel et al., Life [Basel], July 24, 2024; Lennon et al., Science, 2020). In the article by Kisiel et al., the proposed workup includes a CT scan with intravenous contrast (chest, abdomen/pelvis, and soft tissues of the cervical region) and, if necessary, a positron emission tomography (18F FDG) scan from the base of the skull to the mid-thigh. Other follow-up procedures (e.g., targeted imaging, endoscopic procedures, CT scan without intravenous contrast) may be appropriate depending on the patient’s medical history and clinical evaluation (Lennon et al., Science, 2020). False positives and false negatives are possible.
Exact Sciences Laboratories developed the Cancerguard™ test and validated its performance characteristics in accordance with the regulations of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). The test is performed at Exact Sciences Laboratories’ facility in Madison, Wisconsin, in the United States. Exact Sciences Laboratories holds CAP accreditation, CLIA certification, and the expertise to perform highly complex clinical laboratory analyses.
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Exact Sciences Canada, Ltd.
Exact Sciences and Cancerguard™ are trademarks of the Abbott Group.
© Abbott 2026. All rights reserved. M-CA-CAG-00094
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