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Health checks and tests

A health test may detect a risk or disease before symptoms appear, but not every test is useful for everyone. A result may be a false positive or false negative and lead to unnecessary further tests or false reassurance. Age, personal risks, symptoms and whether early treatment really helps should determine which screening is worthwhile.

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  • A test is useful only when it is clear who it is for, how reliable it is, what happens after each result and whether early action demonstrably helps.
  • Screening looks for disease in people without symptoms. Symptoms need targeted diagnostic investigation; a standard check-up may miss important causes.
  • No test is perfect. False positives cause worry and further tests; false negatives may provide misleading reassurance.
  • Measuring more does not always mean better care. Incidental findings and overdiagnosis may lead to tests or treatments that would never have benefited the person.

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