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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19
Published on: July 5, 2022
Screening for diabetes in an African-American community: the Project DIRECT experience
Deborah S Porterfield1, Rebecca Din, Angela Burroughs
1NC Department of Health and Human Services, Project DIRECT, Raleigh, NC 27599, USA. deborah.porterfield@ncmail.net
Aim:
To report the results of a community-based screening program associated with Project DIRECT, a multiyear diabetes mellitus prevention and control project targeting African-American residents of southeast Raleigh, NC.
Methods:
Between December 1996 and June 1999, 183 screening events took place in community settings. Screening was by capillary glucose concentration. Participants with a positive screen were referred for confirmatory testing and physician follow-up.
Main Results:
Risk factors for diabetes were prevalent, including ethnic minority race (88.2%), obesity (45.6%), and family history of diabetes (41.7%). In all, 197 personshad an elevated screening result; the prevalence of diabetes in the screened population that underwent follow-up testiing was 1.7%. Despite persistent tracking efforts, 28% of the persons with a high screening test received no final diagnosis
Conclusions:
In this community-based screening program targeted to high-risk African Americans, risk factors for diabetes were common, but new cases of undiagnosed diabetes among participants were uncommon. Intensive follow-up for persons with high screening values is necessary but difficult to achieve. Our results support national recommendations against community-based screening; opportunistic screening for diabetes in clinical settings is likely a more effective use of resources.
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