Table 1 Examples of common screening tests that are sometimes used outside of evidence-based recommendations [6]
Area | Screening tests often ordered unnecessarily | Common occurrences against (US) recommended clinical indications |
|---|---|---|
Infectious diseases | Hepatitis C antibody | Screening outside of age group recommendations; those not at risk |
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody | Screening outside of age group recommendations; those not at risk | |
Herpes antibody | Screening in general | |
Gonorrhea/chlamydia | Screening outside age group recommendations; those not at risk | |
Human papilloma virus (HPV) | Screening outside age group recommendations; those not at risk; disregard intervals | |
Cardiovascular diseases | Electrocardiogram (EKG) | Screening asymptomatic |
Carotid doppler | Screening asymptomatic | |
Ankle brachial index (ABI) | Screening asymptomatic | |
Cardiac calcium score | Screening asymptomatic | |
Abdominal aortic aneurysm ultrasound | Screening those outside of risk group | |
Coronary angiography | Screening asymptomatic groups | |
Lipids | Disregard recommended intervals | |
Endocrine diseases | Hemoglobin A1c | Screening outside of risk group |
Bone mineral density for osteoporosis screening | Screening outside of age group/risk group; disregard recommended intervals | |
Cancer | Ultrasound kidney cancer | Screening in general |
Thyroid function tests (TFTs) thyroid cancer | Screening in general | |
Full body computed tomography (CT) | Screening in general | |
Mammogram | Screening outside of age group | |
Colorectal cancer screening | Screening outside of age group; disregard recommended intervals | |
Prostate cancer | Screening in general; outside of risk group |