Abstract: A computer aided biological specimen screener is responsive to a priori information about biological specimens. An automated slide classifier scans a slide specimen and generates a set of scores. The classification which results from this set of scores depends on a priori information concerning the patient, such as patient age and prior health history and diagnosis. Using the patient information and an appropriate score, the specimen is classified. A normal threshold used for classification is changed over a wide range depending on the specificity appropriate to a particular patient risk category. The sensitivity of the classification is automatically maximized for a predetermined normal specificity.