Investing.com -- Shares of Guardant Health , Inc. (NASDAQ: GH ) rose 2% following news that its Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening will now be covered for U.S. veterans and eligible family members as part of the VA Community Care Network. The coverage includes no copay for average-risk individuals aged 45 to 84, marking the first extension of coverage beyond the Medicare population for the Shield test.

The VA network coverage, which follows Medicare’s coverage approval in August 2024, is significant as it is the first to include individuals between the ages of 45 and 64. The VA Community Care Network, which serves approximately 9.1 million beneficiaries, offers community-based healthcare services to veterans.

Guardant Health’s co-CEO, AmirAli Talasaz, expressed pride in the potential lifesaving impact of the Shield blood test for veterans and their families. This coverage decision by the VA represents a broader opportunity for the company to help detect colorectal cancer early when it is most treatable.

The FDA approved the Shield test in July 2024 as the first blood test for primary colorectal cancer screening. Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently granted the Shield test Advanced Diagnostic Laboratory Test (ADLT) status for this purpose. The test is approved for average-risk individuals aged 45 and older and can be ordered by any prescribing healthcare provider.

The positive market response to Guardant Health’s stock is attributable to the expansion of insurance coverage for the Shield test, which is expected to increase its adoption and usage among a wider population. The company’s efforts to broaden the impact of its screening test align with its mission to enhance early cancer detection. For more information on the Shield blood test, interested parties can visit www.ShieldCancerScreen.com.

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