What is a screening program?
Screening is a method of identifying the individuals who are at an increased risk of suffering from a particular disease within an apparently healthy population. Such individuals are provided with appropriate counseling, further testing, and the appropriate therapy and follow-up required so as to minimize the risk and complications that may arise from the disease.
Screening is always applied to an otherwise asymptomatic population and not targeted towards those who suffer from any clinical symptoms of the disease sought. Their objective is to minimize the risk of severe health repercussions of the illness. It is widely accepted however that they cannot totally exclude this risk. Before any screening program can be applied to the general population, it is absolutely necessary that the natural history/pathology and development of the disease are fully understood.
A screening program comprises a series of controlled actions such as general public awareness, first and second-line testing, diagnostics, therapy and follow-up that evidently minimizes the repercussions of the disease.
