Wilson and Jungner's classic criteria for a disease to be suitable for screening include all of the following EXCEPT:

• A The condition should be an important health problem
• B The test must have 100% sensitivity to avoid missing any case ✓
• C The natural history of the disease must be well understood
• D The facilities for diagnosis and treatment must be available

Explanation

Wilson and Jungner's 10 criteria (1968) do not require 100% sensitivity — they require that the test be simple, safe, precise, validated, and acceptable to the population. No screening test achieves 100% sensitivity without an unacceptable false-positive rate. The criteria emphasise that the test must be acceptable (not perfect), and that the programme should be cost-effective. A perfect sensitivity is neither achievable nor a stated criterion.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.