Recommended Screenings for Adults

Core Laboratory Tests and Measurements

The American College of Physicians recommends complete blood count (CBC) with differential to screen for anemia, infection, and blood disorders in adults 3
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) to assess kidney function, liver function, and electrolyte balance in adults 3
The American Heart Association recommends lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides) to assess cardiovascular risk, which can be performed on non-fasting samples 3
The American Diabetes Association recommends hemoglobin A1C to screen for diabetes and prediabetes in adults 3
The National Kidney Foundation recommends urinalysis with albumin-to-creatinine ratio to screen for kidney disease in adults 3
The American Heart Association recommends blood pressure measurement at every visit 3

The American Cancer Society recommends beginning colorectal cancer screening at age 45 with one of the following options: annual fecal immunochemical test (FIT), annual high-sensitivity guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (HSgFOBT), multitarget stool DNA test every 3 years, colonoscopy every 10 years, CT colonography every 5 years, or flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years 1 2
The American Cancer Society recommends that all positive results on non-colonoscopy screening tests should be followed up with timely colonoscopy 1

The American Urological Association recommends discussing prostate cancer screening options with the patient, as this is an age where shared decision-making about PSA testing should begin 2
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that for men at average risk, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal examination should be offered annually beginning at age 50 4
The American Urological Association recommends that for men at higher risk (African American men or those with a family history of prostate cancer), screening discussions should begin at age 45 4 5
The American Urological Association recommends using a shared decision-making approach to weigh potential benefits against harms of prostate cancer screening 2

The American Diabetes Association recommends screening for diabetes with hemoglobin A1C, especially important for those with BMI ≥25 kg/m² with additional risk factors 3
The American Diabetes Association recommends that risk factors for diabetes include first-degree relative with diabetes, high-risk race/ethnicity, history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, HDL <35 mg/dL, triglycerides >250 mg/dL 3
The American Diabetes Association recommends that for those with prediabetes (A1C 5.7-6.4%), yearly testing is recommended 3
The American Diabetes Association recommends that for those with normal results, repeat testing every 3 years 3

The American Cancer Society recommends not delaying colorectal cancer screening beyond age 45, as guidelines have recently lowered the recommended starting age from 50 to 45 2
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends not failing to repeat abnormal lipid or glucose test results for confirmation before making a diagnosis 2
The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends providing counseling on diet, physical activity, tobacco cessation, and alcohol use 3