screening

Checking or testing for a disease in a group of people who don’t show any symptoms of the disease.

Examples of cancer screening tests include mammography, colonoscopy and Pap test.

Organized screening programs are offered to groups of people through a coordinated program. Opportunistic (or ad hoc) screening is offered outside of an organized screening program (for example, some women have Pap tests at their doctor’s office during a physical exam).