This is the fourth and final blog article in our series leading up to the opening of the UK National Screening Committee's open call, which will run for 3 months from 1 July to 30 September 2026.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is frequently contacted by researchers, innovators and companies who are developing new screening tests and would like to see them introduced into NHS screening programmes.
Innovative technologies have the potential to improve screening, for example by making tests more accurate, more acceptable, or more efficient. At the same time, screening is complex, and introducing a new test is not simply a technical ‘swap’. It can have wide-ranging consequences for people invited to screening and for NHS services.
Feedback from our stakeholders has highlighted uncertainties about what evidence the UK NSC needs to see before a new screening test can be considered. This blog article helps to address by providing a brief overview of the type of evidence that should be available when proposing a new screening test for use in an existing screening programme.
Screening is more than just a test
Screening is not a single event. It is a pathway that starts with identifying the right people to invite (the eligible population), offering screening with clear information, carrying out a test, confirming results, and ensuring that effective treatment is available for those who need it.
A change to the screening test can impact on many parts of this pathway, including:
- how many people test positive
- follow-up tests and referrals
- workforce and infrastructure requirements
- people’s experiences of the screening process
Test evaluation
The UK NSC expects the evaluation of new screening tests to reflect how screening works in real-world settings.
This means that evidence must show not just that a test works, but that if it were used to replace the current test it would be better in some way – for example because it is easier to use, cheaper, more accurate or preferred by the public. A new test must also have met all necessary regulatory requirements before being considered by the UK NSC and evidence should be published in peer-reviewed literature.
New tests need to have analytical validity, clinical validity and clinical utility. These are 3 very important concepts when considering new screening tests:
- analytical validity considers whether a test can accurately and reliably detect what it claims to measure under laboratory conditions
- clinical validity examines how well the test identifies people with the relevant condition in populations identified for screening
- clinical utility considers the impact of the test on the whole screening pathway, including benefits, harms, acceptability, feasibility, and resource implications
Submitting a proposal to the UK NSC
The open call process considers evidence from peer-reviewed sources only, in line with the UK NSC’s established evidence review process. Once sufficient evidence has been generated for a new test, proposals can then be submitted through the UK NSC open call.
In circumstances where the evidence base is still in development, researchers can seek advice on planned or ongoing work from the UK NSC’s Research and Methodology Group (RMG). This group can help clarify expectations and make sure that studies are designed to meet the evidence requirements for future evaluation.
Submissions to the 2026 open call
Proposals to the open call must be submitted between 1 July and 30 September 2026 to be considered. Please follow our guidance on submitting a proposal, which covers what to include and how to submit your proposal.
Keep up to date
The UK NSC blog provides up to date news from the UK NSC. You can register to receive updates direct to your inbox, so there is no need to keep checking for new articles. If you have any questions about this blog article, or about the work of the UK NSC, please email uknsc@dhsc.gov.uk.
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