294 A False Positive MT-DNA Stool Test—What Is Next?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: 

Stool DNA testing for colorectal screening is a noninvasive and convenient method. Multiple studies have shown a wide range of false positive (FP) results. It is unclear if a patient with FP results are at increased long-term risk of adverse effect and currently there are no specific recommendations to guide the follow up in this cohort of patients. We aimed at finding the exact FP rate that can help design future studies.

METHODS: 

A systematic literature search of multiple databases for studies in colorectal screening using MT-DNA test and reporting the FP results up to December 2018 identifying a total of 8 studies were included in our meta-analysis.

RESULTS: 

The studies reported a total of 16921 patients who underwent MT-DNA screening test. A total of 789 FP results was reported with an estimated pooled rate of 10%. The estimates were calculated using the random effect model. There was a significant heterogenicity of the results reported with (I2 = 95%, Q-140.5, P < 0.001). The analysis was done using metaXL (v 5.3).

CONCLUSION: 

In our meta-analysis, the FP rate was 10% which represent a significant number of patients with undetermined long-term complications especially colorectal cancer event rates in the follow-up period. More randomized controlled trials and prospective studies are needed to evaluate the possible complications and to establish possible additional follow up screening guidelines for FP test results. More randomized controlled trials and prospective studies are needed to evaluate the possible complications and to establish possible additional follow up screening guidelines for FP test results.