The body of evidence had some limitations including different treatment goals/targets and confounders in the analysis. Other considerations regarding this recommendation included the benefits, including improved outcomes in cardiovascular events and mortality, outweighing the potential harm of adverse events (e.g., false positive screening, missed diagnosis), which was small. Patient values and preferences were similar, as blood pressure screening is a routine part of almost all outpatient medical care. Thus, the Work Group decided that a Strong for recommendation was warranted. More research is needed on the best screening method for HTN as well as the best interval between screenings in both the general population and those at-risk for HTN. b. Measurement Techniques Recommendation 2. We suggest using attended or unattended, fully automated office blood pressure measurement (programmed to wait five minutes and record the average of three measurements separated by at least 30 seconds). (Weak for | Reviewed, New-added) 3. When fully automated blood pressure measurement is not available, we suggest measurement of blood pressure using standard technique and a properly calibrated and validated sphygmomanometer. (Weak for | Reviewed, New-replaced) Discussion The diagnosis and management of HTN has been based primarily on measurement of blood pressure in a medical clinic or office. Office measurements were used by most observational studies and all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) defining both the risk of various blood pressure levels and the goal blood pressures that have reduced cardiovascular outcomes or mortality. To obtain the values most representative of the patient s office blood pressure, evidence supports that at least two readings be taken on each of two occasions, at least one day apart. 