The National Health Committee has developed a list of criteria against which decisions about new screening programmes can be assessed.  These criteria are:

• the condition is a suitable candidate for screening
• there is a suitable test
• there is an effective and accessible treatment or intervention for the condition identified through early detection
• there is high-quality evidence, ideally from randomised controlled trials, that a screening programme is effective in reducing mortality or morbidity
• the potential benefit from the screening programme should outweigh the potential physical and psychological harm (caused by the test, diagnostic procedures and treatment)
• the health care system will be capable of supporting all necessary elements of the screening pathway, including diagnosis, follow-up and programme evaluation
• there is consideration of social and ethical issues
• there is consideration of cost-benefit issues.

For further information, see the document Screening to Improve Health in New Zealand: Criteria to assess screening programmes, National Health Committe (2003).