Apart from improving adenoma detection rates, the tablet formulation of methylene blue dye no longer requires on-site mixing by providers. This was a limiting factor because the dye itself is difficult to mix and hard to obtain for many health care centers around the world. The mixed solution was also not as effective because it was sprayed during colonoscopies. Dr. Wallace asserted that spraying through the colonoscope could be imprecise, time consuming, and localized. For these reasons, this technique was never widely adopted. The primary advantage of the tablet formulation is that it releases the dye in the colon at or near the time of the colonoscopy.
Dr. Wallace emphasized that there is no substitute for good colonoscopy practice and that methylene blue is just another tool to help improve the practice.
“The oral, delayed-release methylene blue provides gastroenterologists with a new and supplemental method to improve their adenoma detection rate on top of what is otherwise a high-quality examination.