Table 1 Wilson and Jungner criteria for disease screening

1

The condition sought should be an important health problem

2

There should be an accepted treatment for patients with recognized disease

3

Facilities for diagnosis and treatment should be available

4

There should be a latent or early symptomatic stage

5

There should be a suitable test or examination

6

The test should be acceptable to the population

7

The natural history of the condition, including development from latent to declared disease, should be adequately understood

8

There should be an agreed policy on who to treat as patients

9

The cost of case finding (including diagnosis and treatment of patient diagnosis) should be economically balanced in relation to possible expenditure on medical care as a whole

10

Case finding should be a continuing process and not a “once and for all” project