What are the types and characteristics of screening tests?

Published on : 24 April 20203 min reading time

Pollution is becoming more and more prevalent in the world. However, it creates bad consequences, especially in terms of health. Diseases spread exponentially. In order to avoid their contamination, it is often necessary to have a health check-up and resort to screening tests. But what is it all about? And how does it work?

The screening test: what is it?

The screening test is an operation that consists in looking for one or more diseases, capable of contaminating an entire city. In other words, it is a disease detection process. The doctor will carry out a screening test on a part of the population and identify the abnormalities present in their bodies. He will identify the symptoms and consequences of this disease. Then, medical consultations, examinations, diagnosis and treatment follow the investigations.

Screening is very similar to the secondary prevention process. Its purpose is to prevent the spread of a disease and its effects.

What are the types of screening tests?

There are several types of screening.

Mass screening is done on an entire population. It occurs when an abnormality is detected in a village or town. (For example: the epidemic of plague, tuberculosis, etc.).

Multi-screening, as its name suggests, involves several examinations at one time. Also called “multiphase screening”, it consists of performing several tests at the same time. In principle, it is carried out every year, thanks to a general health check-up.

Proactive screening or systematic screening is carried out on a part of the population at risk. The doctor will encourage them to take a screening test in order to diagnose the disease and treat it.

Finally, there is opportunistic screening, when it is the patient himself who decides to take the test. Usually this happens after a doctor’s consultation. The doctor will invite the patient to have a screening test such as a mammogram or prenatal amniocentesis.

How do you ensure a good screening test?

To prevent the spread of a disease, screening is an essential step. But to ensure its effectiveness, a screening program must be put in place. This ensures a safe and acceptable screening test. It is also necessary to set up adequate facilities for screening tests. Finally, it must be less expensive, so that the entire population can be tested. That way, the disease can disappear very quickly.

What is disease screening and what is its importance?

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