This study evaluates the acceptability, the predictive value and the utility of a hypertension screening programme for Swiss adolescents from 16 to 19 years of age, using private physicians' records as an end-point: 3,386 young people had their blood pressure (BP) measured in a standardized way: 113 teenagers were sent to their private physician, 14 patients were considered to be hypertensive, and 29 others borderline hypertensive. The predictive value of the test is 38%; the prevalence of hypertension in the screened population is 1.3%; no secondary hypertension was detected. The acceptability of the programme is good, its predictive value fair, but its utility can be questioned because of the low prevalence of hypertension in this age group and the absence of secondary or very high hypertension.