Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) has introduced Epi proColon, a blood-based test for colorectal cancer screening.

The test, which was developed by Epigenomics, secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April.

Claimed to be the first FDA-approved DNA based blood test for colorectal cancer, Epi proColon is marketed in North America, under a joint commercialization agreement with Polymedco.

Epi proColon test holds capability to detect Epigenomics proprietary Septin9 DNA methylation biomarker for colorectal cancer in cell-free DNA circulating in blood. In multiple clinical studies, the test proved to be a reliable indicator to detect colorectal cancer.

LabCorp Diagnostics chief medical officer Dr Mark Brecher said: "Many people are not properly screened because they are reluctant to collect a stool sample or undergo a colonoscopy.

"Tested from a simple blood draw, Epi proColon is a convenient, accurate alternative for those patients who should be screened for colorectal cancer."

As per the American Cancer Society, there are projected to be over 134,000 new diagnoses of colorectal cancer, and around 50,000 deaths from colorectal cancer in this year in the US.

Through its subsidiaries, LabCorp offers iagnostics, drug development services and technology-enabled solutions.