Screening is the application of a test to asymptomatic individuals for classification of likelihood of having disease. Which statement is true?

• A. It diagnoses illness in all individuals.
• B. It is applied to people who are asymptomatic.
• C. It has no risks or costs.
• D. It requires no follow-up treatment.

Answer: (B)

Screening is the use of a test in people who do not have symptoms to estimate the probability that they have a disease and to identify those who should receive further diagnostic testing. The statement that is true is that it is applied to asymptomatic individuals. By focusing on people without symptoms, screening aims to catch disease earlier when intervention may help. It does not diagnose illness in everyone; a positive screen flags someone for confirmatory testing. It does carry risks and costs, including false positives leading to unnecessary follow-up procedures and anxiety, and the possibility of overdiagnosis. And it requires follow-up diagnostic evaluation to determine whether the disease is actually present and to guide treatment decisions; without follow-up, screening has limited value.