Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening
Reviewed
ASD screening is used to check for early signs of autism spectrum disorder in children age 2 and under, and sometimes in older children and adults. It helps find out which children need more testing to see if they have ASD. Screening cannot diagnose ASD.
Preparation and collection
No special preparations needed.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- Screening cannot diagnose ASD; it only identifies children who may need further testing.
- Screening may not find milder cases in early childhood.
- For adults, screening tools are still being developed and tested, and it can be difficult to find a specialist with experience diagnosing ASD in adults.
What to do next
If screening results show signs of ASD, more testing by a specialist (e.g., developmental pediatrician, child neurologist, child psychologist/psychiatrist) is needed to confirm whether the signs are caused by ASD. If screening results do not find signs of ASD but you have concerns, discuss them with your provider.
Evidence source
U.S. National Library of Medicine: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening