The new generation blood test : easy and effective
Early detection saves lives
A Swiss innovation developed in collaboration with the University Hospital of Lausanne
From a simple blood draw
Detects early stage cancers and adenomatous polyps
Select the right patients for diagnostic colonoscopy
Our solution
Colox® is a a new generation blood-based test for early detection of colorectal cancer. It is clinically validated and currently available through clinical laboratories in Switzerland. Colox® has proven to have significant benefits:
Colox® has been validated through a multi-center clinical study in Switzerland detecting 78% of colorectal cancer patients, and 52% of patients with adenomatous polyps.
How does Colox® work?
Colox® is a molecular test that measures the immune system response to colorectal lesions. In the presence of adenomatous polyps or colon cancer, Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) will modify their gene expression profile. Colox® is based on the analysis of these cells, isolated from a routine blood sample. The molecular test will measure the modification of the PBMCs expression profile using an algorithm to give a positive or negative result.
Learn more about the test.
Individuals testing positive with Colox® have high probability to present colorectal lesions and are referred for follow-up diagnostic colonoscopy for final diagnosis.
Individuals testing negative with Colox® have no colorectal lesion with high probability and should continue periodic testing at intervals recommended by their physician.
Get screened
Colox® is intended for women and men with an average risk of colorectal cancer, aged 50 and over and without symptom of colorectal cancer.
If you want to do the test, talk with your physician. The Colox test can be prescribed by your general practitioner. Print this “Information for doctors” and ask your doctor for advice. The blood sample can be taken at your doctor’s office or at a medical laboratory. The results of the test will be sent to you by your doctor.
Colox Timeline from 2007 to now
What you need to know about the Colox® test
> What is Colox® ?
Colox® is an easy and efficient blood test for the detection of colorectal tumours and adenomatous polyps. Colox® is a screening test which identifies the high-risk cases of colorectal cancer and directs patients to a colonoscopy diagnosis when needed.
> How does Colox® work ?
Colox® is a molecular test which combines 29 RNA biomarkers with 2 protein tumor markers to give a positive or negative result. RNA markers, changed during the initial stages of the development of a lesion, allow for its early detection. The 2 proteins ensure its specificity. The variation of these biomarkers can signify the presence of a colorectal tumor which will be confirmed thanks to a colonoscopy.
Read more : Development and Clinical Validation of a Blood Test Based on 29-Gene Expression for Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer
> Who can do a Colox® test?
Colox® is a screening test for the prevention and the early detection of colorectal cancer. The test is intended for women and men with an average risk of colorectal cancer: aged 50 and over, no symptom of colorectal cancer, no history of cancer or hereditary syndromes or chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
> Who can’t do a Colox® test?
Colox® is not recommended for people who have a higher risk of colorectal cancer than average with:
- A personal history of adenomatous polyps or colorectal cancer
- A first-degree family history of colorectal cancer
- A family and/or personal history of a high-risk hereditary syndrome such as: Lynch syndrome (HNPCC), familial adenomatous polyps (FAP), etc
- A family and/or personal history of a high risk hereditary syndrome such as: Lynch syndrome (HNPCC), familial adenomatous polyps (FAP), etc
- A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (CIBD), Crohn’s disease, haemorrhagic recto colitis (HRC), etc
> Why should I choose Colox® ? What are the benefits?
Colox® is the most convenient screening test on the market that enables early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. It just needs a blood test compared to other more invasive and inconvenient tests, which require you to prepare your bowels or handle your stools. Moreover, it doesn’t require a hospital stay. Reliable clinical studies have proved the performance of the test for the effective detection of colorectal cancers. Moreover, Colox® has good performances for the detection of adenomatous polyps bigger than 1cm.
This test is therefore intended for women and men who prefer the simplicity of a blood test to an invasive screening colonoscopy.
> Has Colox® already been prescribed?
Colox® is a test used in medical routine. Today, 400 doctors have already prescribed Colox® to more than 3200 patients.
> What is the procedure if I want to get screened with Colox®?
First, you have to go to your doctor’s office to talk to him about the test and to know if Colox is recommended for you. Then, a blood sample is taken by the doctor or directly at the laboratory. The laboratory will analyse the sample and then your results will be sent to your doctor. You can also contact Novigenix for more information.
> Are there special recommendations before performing the Colox® test?
One of the advantages of Colox is that it does not require any special preparation. However, it is recommended you don’t smoke for 12 hours before the blood test. Some drugs can also influence the results. Ask your doctor for advice.
> Should I do a colonoscopy too?
Yes, if the result of the test is positive. A colonoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyps. Moreover, a colonoscopy allows for a direct resection of polyps to thus prevent them from developing into cancer.
> How much time to get the results?
The results will be communicated to your doctor after one to two weeks.
> How can I interpret my results?
If your Colox is negative, this means that you have no cancerous colorectal lesion with a probability of 99.9%.
If your result is positive, this means that you have adenomatous polyps with a probability of 52% but only 2% of positive tests will be cancer. A positive result requires a follow-up diagnostic colonoscopy.
> After how long do I have to repeat the test?
It is recommended to get screened every two years.
> How much does the test cost?
Colox costs CHF 279. Colox is not reimbursed for the moment. Some insurances may cover a part of the cost, ask your insurance directly.
Colox® is currently available through our partners medical laboratories in Switzerland:
They Believe in us
patients have already done the Colox® test
physicians have alrdeay prescribed the Colox® test
For individuals without digestive symptoms and who absolutely don’t want to do a colonoscopy, two alternatives are proposed. One of them is the Colox® test. Contrary to colonoscopy, fecal occult blood testing and the Colox® test are non-invasive and less burdensome for individuals. In my experience, the Colox® test is probably much better than the colorectal test Hemoccult: there is no need to handle stool.
This new test has all the evidences of an effective and practical tool test for colorectal cancer screening
This new test has all the evidences of an effective and practical tool test for colorectal cancer screening in patients who should be referred for colonoscopy. This test is a promising help in cancer screening. Thanks to colorectal screening, we can prevent a lot of suffering. I advise to every men and women aged 50 and over to take colorectal cancer screening seriously and to get screened regularly.
Personally, I prescribe the colox test to patients from the age of 50
Thanks to the positive result of Colox I did a colonoscopy which probably saved my life