Scientific Advisory Committee Opinion Paper 20
Screening is defined as the examination of asymptomatic individuals with a view to identifying those who have occult disease or who are likely subsequently to develop disease. The primary aim of screening is to allow intervention to improve outcome through treatment of disease at an earlier, more tractable state or to prevent its development. Screening tests can take many forms, including history, physical examination, biochemical measurements, imaging and cytology. Obstetrics and gynaecology includes examples of highly successful and high-profile screening, such as Down syndrome and cervical cytology. Many more problems within the specialty could potentially be improved by effective screening and intervention, such as stillbirth, premature ovarian failure and ovarian cancer.
This SAC Opinion Paper can be downloaded as a pdf below:
- Evaluating New Screening Methodologies SAC Opinion Paper 20 (pdf)
