OrganizationRecommendations
American Academy of Family Physicians5 Screening for CRC with FIT, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy should start at 50 years of age and continue until 75 years of age.
The decision to screen for CRC in adults 76 to 85 years of age should be individualized, taking into account the patient's overall health and screening history.
Screening for CRC is not recommended in adults older than 85 years.
American Cancer Society6 Starting at 45 years of age and continuing through the age of 75 years, adults at average risk of CRC with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should undergo regular screening with either a high-sensitivity stool-based test or a structural (visual) examination, depending on patient preference and test availability. Clinicians should individualize screening decisions for individuals aged 76 through 85 years, and discourage individuals older than 85 years from continuing CRC screening.

  • Options for CRC screening are:

    Fecal immunochemical test annually

    High-sensitivity, guaiac-based fecal occult blood test annually

    Multi-target stool DNA test every three years

    Colonoscopy every 10 years

    Computed tomography colonography every five years

    Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years

American College of Gastroenterology7 The preferred test is colonoscopy every 10 years, beginning at 50 years of age.
Screening should begin at 45 years of age in blacks.
FIT should be offered to patients who decline colonoscopy.
Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care8 Screening for CRC should start at 50 years of age and continue until 74 years of age using stool-based tests or direct visualization tests.
Stool-based test: gFOBT or FIT every two years
Direct visualization test: Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years
Colonoscopy is not recommended as a screening test for CRC.
U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer9 Screening for CRC should begin at 50 years of age in average-risk persons; however, limited evidence supports screening beginning at 45 years of age in blacks. Discontinue screening at 75 years of age or in individuals who have a life expectancy less than 10 years.
First-tier recommendation: Colonoscopy every 10 years or annual FIT
Second-tier recommendation: Computed tomographic colonography every five years, FIT-DNA test every three years, or flexible sigmoidoscopy every five to 10 years
Third-tier recommendation: Capsule colonoscopy every five years
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force3 Screening for CRC should start at 50 years of age and continue until 75 years of age.
    Stool-based tests:

  • gFOBT every year

  • FIT every year

  • FIT-DNA test every one or three years

    Direct visualization tests:

  • Colonoscopy every 10 years

  • Computed tomographic colonography every five years

  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years

  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 years with FIT every year