What Is a Screening Test?
A screening test refers to the preliminary sorting of products or chemicals to prioritize samples for detailed testing. These tests serve various purposes, including assessing disease risk, pharmaceutical development, substance toxicity, and identifying defective semiconductor products.
Uses of Screening Test
Screening tests have broad applications in semiconductor development, pharmaceuticals, toxicity assessments, and more.
1. Exclusion of Initial Defects in Semiconductors
Precision electronic components like semiconductors undergo extensive screening tests, including visual, electrical, and environmental stress screenings. Products that pass these tests are shipped as finished goods.
2. Initial Development of Pharmaceuticals
In pharmaceutical development, screening tests help select potential pharmaceutical compounds from a large pool of candidates. These tests evaluate compounds’ effects on receptors, enzymes, ion channels, and proteins to identify effective pharmaceuticals.
3. Risk Assessment of Chemical Substances
Screening tests under chemical regulations assess the risks posed by chemical substances, focusing on environmental pollution, toxicity to humans, animals, and plants, residue absence, and explosion or ignition risks. Substances that cannot be confirmed as safe may be designated as priority assessment chemicals.
4. Initial Assessment of Allergy Labeling
Screening tests are crucial for food allergy labeling, ensuring the safety of allergy patients. Two different screening tests verify the validity of food allergy labeling on processed food products.
5. Parts for Satellites, Rockets, Among Others
Components used in aerospace applications, such as satellites and rockets, undergo rigorous reliability tests and screening to prevent failures. Screening test methods are established to ensure their reliability.
Principle of Screening Test
The term “screening” implies sorting. Screening tests involve the selection or testing process through medical or chemical experiments. Some tests can be burdensome and costly. In such cases, screening tests are conducted on the entire population to identify potential risks. There are three main types of screening tests: visual screening, electrical screening, and environmental stress screening. The choice of method depends on the target and environmental factors.
Characteristics of Screening Tests
Screening tests aim to identify potential risks using relatively simple methods while minimizing financial and physical burdens. However, false positives may occur, leading to further detailed testing to confirm or rule out issues.