High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! High content screening (HCS) also known as high content analysis (HCA), or visual screening is a method that is used in biological research and drug discovery to identify substances such as small molecules, peptides, or RNAi that alter the phenotype of a cell in a desired manner. Hence high content screening is a type of phenotypic screen conducted in cells. Phenotypic changes may include increases or decreases in the production of cellular products such as proteins and/or changes in the morphology (visual appearance) of the cell. High content screening includes any method used to analyze whole cells or components of cells with simultaneous readout of several parameters. Hence the name "high content screening".