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Guardant Health's Shield Blood-based Screening Test for Colorectal Cancer Now Accessible Through National Test Ordering and Collection Network of Quest Diagnostics
The partnership expands access to Shield, the first and only FDA-approved blood test for colorectal cancer screening in average-risk adults.
Mar. 10, 2026 at 12:05pm
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Guardant Health, a leading precision oncology company, announced that its Shield blood-based screening test for colorectal cancer is now widely accessible for physician order through the nationwide connectivity of Quest Diagnostics. This partnership will equip clinicians with access to this innovative blood-based screening option through one of the largest diagnostic ecosystems in the United States.
Why it matters
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., yet over 54 million people do not complete the recommended screening, in part because they find the available options, colonoscopy and stool tests, unpleasant or inconvenient. Shield's innovative technology, supported by Quest's vast, nationwide infrastructure, aims to transform colorectal cancer screening by providing a quick and easy blood-based option that patients are more likely to complete.
The details
Under the agreement, providers that order lab testing from Quest can now directly access Shield through their existing Quest account and electronic health record (EHR). Quest provides healthcare connectivity solutions to nearly 650,000 clinician and hospital accounts annually in the United States, and providers can also utilize Quest's approximately 2,000 patient service centers and approximately 6,000 in-office phlebotomists across the country for blood draws for Shield.
- Shield is the first and only blood test to receive full FDA approval as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in average-risk adults aged 45 and older.
The players
Guardant Health, Inc.
A leading precision oncology company focused on guarding wellness and giving every person more time free from cancer.
Quest Diagnostics
One of the largest diagnostic ecosystems in the United States, providing healthcare connectivity solutions to nearly 650,000 clinician and hospital accounts annually.
Shield
A methylation partitioning cell-free DNA (mp-cfDNA) non-invasive, blood-based screening test that detects alterations associated with colorectal cancer in the blood.
AmirAli Talasaz
Guardant Health co-CEO.
What they’re saying
“Activating our strategic collaboration with Quest marks a pivotal milestone in broadening access to Shield and empowering primary care physicians across the country to bring the lifesaving advantages of early detection to their patients with just a blood draw.”
— AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO
What’s next
The partnership between Guardant Health and Quest Diagnostics is expected to further expand access to the Shield blood-based colorectal cancer screening test, making it more widely available to primary care physicians and their patients across the United States.
The takeaway
This collaboration between a leading precision oncology company and a major diagnostic provider aims to improve colorectal cancer screening rates by offering a convenient, blood-based test option that can help detect cancer early, when it is more treatable.
