What is the difference between a screening test and a diagnostic test?
A screening test allows physicians to group asymptomatic (no symptoms) patients in different categories from low risk to high risk. A diagnostic test confirms whether or not symptomatic (with symptoms) patients actually have a disease. HALO is a screening test and works much like a cholesterol screen for potential cardiovascular disease. Just because you have high cholesterol doesn’t mean you have heart disease. Similarly, just because you have atypia does not mean you have breast cancer.
