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Rapid stool test detects colorectal cancer with high accuracy
The M2-PK Quick, a rapid point-of-care stool test that detects the oncoprotein M2 pyruvate kinase, provided a highly accurate diagnosis of colorectal cancer, according to recent study data.
“The M2-PK quantitative test has been widely tested and [has] shown a sensitivity ranging from 73-97% and specificity from 78.6-100.0%,” the researchers wrote. “However, to date there [has] been no validation of the rapid point-of-care M2-PK Quick stool test and our study is the first reported study.”
Researchers performed a case control study at the University of Malaya Medical Center in Malaysia from January to December 2013 to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the immunochromatographic M2-PK Quick Test (ScheBo Biotech). They tested stool from 100 consecutive patients diagnosed with CRC and 200 healthy controls undergoing screening colonoscopy.
The M2-PK test performed with 93% sensitivity (95% CI, 86.3%-96.6%), 97.5% specificity (95% CI, 94.3%-98.9%), 94.9% positive predictive value (95% CI, 88.6%-97.8%), 96.5% negative predictive value (95% CI, 93%-98.3%) and 96% overall accuracy (95% CI, 93.1%-97.7%). Subanalyses based on tumor location and staging revealed no significant differences in diagnostic accuracy except for a lower positive predictive value for proximal compared with distal tumors (P = .01).
“The M2-PK Quick, rapid, point-of-care test is a highly accurate test in the detection of CRC,” the researchers concluded. “It is easy and convenient to perform and a useful diagnostic test for the detection of CRC in a clinical practice setting.” – by Adam Leitenberger
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.