ResourcesGlossary: testing
Screening measurement
Short answer
A screening measurement is a single short-term test result, treated as an initial read rather than a final answer.
What screening measurement means
Nebraska's radon program calls short-term kits useful as initial screening tests because they are inexpensive and results are received faster than
The price of speed is certainty. EPA says a
What EPA says to do after a first result
Each row converts the level to
| First result | In Bq/m³ | Times the action level | EPA's next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pCi/L or more | 148 or more | 1 or more | Follow up with either a long-term test or a second short-term test |
| More than 8 pCi/L | More than 296 | More than 2 | Take a second short-term test immediately |
| Average of the first and second test at 4 pCi/L or more | 148 or more | 1 or more | EPA recommends fixing the home |
What it means for your home
Treat the first number as a reason to test again, not as a verdict in either direction. CDC's instruction for a second short-term test is to calculate the average of the two results.
The higher the first result, EPA says, the more certain you can be that the follow-up should be a short-term test and not a long-term one.
Where to go next
- Radon level interpreter. Enter the first result and read EPA's next step for it.
- How to read a radon test result. What the number on the report means and what to do with it.