title: Validity of screening.
abstract: The technical aspects of evaluation of screening programs to detect early disease are discussed. Screening is differentiated from diagnosis. The practical importance of specificity and sensitivity of screening tests is illustrated. The concept of evaluation of the total program is introduced. The determinants of successful programs are discussed with illustrations.
mesh_terms: D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012107:Research Design