Principles and Practices of Screening for Disease

Tests or examinations that can rapidly and inexpensively screen for a particular disease, disorder, or risk factor can be done in a variety of settings. Positive results of such tests are not generally diagnostic; rather, they indicate a need for further confirmatory tests. Standard measures of the accuracy of a particular screening test are important to consider. Screening programs should be population specific. Factors including population-specific disease incidence, proper application of the screening test, availability of resources for confirming the diagnosis and offering proper treatment, and medical-administrative disposition of the active duty uniformed service patient are also necessary to consider.