After a Positive Noninvasive Colorectal Screening Result, What Happens Next Matters: Geneoscopy Launches ColoSense NextStep

New provider-enabled navigation program gives patients live, personalized support after a positive ColoSense result — addressing barriers to follow-up colonoscopy needed to complete screening

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Geneoscopy, Inc., a healthcare diagnostics company advancing the next generation of tools for gastrointestinal health, today announced the launch of ColoSense NextStep, a provider-enabled, opt-in patient navigation program designed to help patients with a positive ColoSense colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test result move toward the recommended follow-up colonoscopy to complete screening.

Too many patients do not take that critical next step. In a study of nearly 33,000 people with a positive stool-based screening result, only 56 percent received a follow-up colonoscopy within one year.¹

Incomplete follow-up can have serious consequences. Research has found that failure to complete follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based screening test is associated with twice the risk of death from colorectal cancer.²

ColoSense NextStep addresses this critical gap

For providers who opt in, the program helps patients understand why follow-up matters, address practical barriers, and move toward the recommended follow-up colonoscopy to complete CRC screening. The program's goal is to help patients complete follow-up colonoscopy within 90 days of a positive ColoSense result.

Geneoscopy developed ColoSense, its FDA-approved, RNA-based CRC screening test, as an at-home option for average-risk adults 45 and older. With ColoSense NextStep, the company is extending its support beyond test completion and result communication to help patients take the critical next step after a positive result.

"A positive screening result can be an overwhelming moment for patients," said Erica Barnell, MD, PhD, co-founder and chief science and medical officer of Geneoscopy. "Some patients have questions about what the result means, what happens next, and how to arrange follow-up care. ColoSense NextStep is designed to provide personal support at that critical moment – so patients don't have to navigate the path to colonoscopy alone."

Noninvasive screening can expand access, but its full benefit depends on what happens after a positive result. By addressing common practical barriers to follow-up, ColoSense NextStep is designed to help participating providers, health systems, and payers support patients in completing the full CRC screening process when they need additional care.

Live support when it matters most

For providers who enroll in ColoSense NextStep, their patients will receive consented outreach by text, email, or phone.

The NextStep Clinical Support Team provides general education on the importance of follow-up colonoscopy and what patients can expect, answers general questions about the next step in care, and helps patients identify practical barriers that could delay follow-up. When requested, the team may also share publicly available, non-directive information about nearby or in-network gastroenterology providers and general transportation or access-to-care resources. Patients who need additional assistance can access live support.

"For providers, health systems, and payers, initial test completion is only one measure of an effective colorectal cancer screening program," said Andrew Barnell, co-founder and chief executive officer of Geneoscopy. "For patients with a positive noninvasive result, timely follow-up colonoscopy is necessary to complete screening and realize its full benefit. ColoSense NextStep gives providers an additional resource to help address barriers to follow-up – supporting a more complete, patient-centered approach to colorectal cancer screening."

ColoSense NextStep reflects Geneoscopy's commitment to the full colorectal cancer screening process by helping patients move from a positive result toward appropriate diagnostic follow-up, while giving participating providers an additional resource to support care when it matters most.

To learn more about ColoSense NextStep, visit colosense.com/colosense-nextstep

About ColoSense NextStep
ColoSense NextStep is Geneoscopy's provider-enabled, opt-in patient navigation program for patients with a positive (abnormal) ColoSense result. The program provides educational and communication support related to follow-up colonoscopy after a positive ColoSense result. Participation is voluntary and subject to applicable provider opt-in, patient consent, privacy, and communication requirements. The cost of NextStep is included with each order as part of the standard ColoSense patient experience.

ColoSense NextStep is not a healthcare provider. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations; schedule procedures, make referrals, or guarantee colonoscopy completion or clinical outcomes. NextStep does not pay for medical care, cover transportation or other related expenses. The patient and the patient's healthcare provider remain responsible for all clinical decisions.

About ColoSense
ColoSense is Geneoscopy's FDA-approved, multi-target stool RNA test for the qualitative detection of colorectal neoplasia-associated RNA markers and occult hemoglobin in human stool. Geneoscopy developed ColoSense as a noninvasive CRC screening option for average-risk adults 45 and older. ColoSense is listed as a preferred screening option in the American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines and included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. A positive ColoSense result should be followed by appropriate diagnostic evaluation, including colonoscopy, as determined by a healthcare provider. ColoSense is not a replacement for diagnostic or surveillance colonoscopy in high-risk individuals. ColoSense is available nationwide through Geneoscopy's commercial collaboration with Labcorp, enabling broad access for providers and patients through its nationwide network. For more information, visit colosense.com.

About Geneoscopy
Geneoscopy is a healthcare diagnostics company focused on advancing gastrointestinal health by designing tools for real-world care. The company's proprietary, patented RNA-based biomarker platform powers its FDA-approved ColoSense test for CRC screening and supports continued development of clinically useful diagnostic tools for gastrointestinal health. For more information, visit geneoscopy.com.

¹ Mohl JT, et al. Rates of follow-up colonoscopy after a positive stool-based screening test result for colorectal cancer among health care organizations in the US, 2017–2020. JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(1):e2251384.

² Zorzi M, et al. Non-compliance with colonoscopy after a positive fecal immunochemical test doubles the risk of dying from colorectal cancer. Gut. 2022;71:561–567.

SOURCE Geneoscopy Inc.