A nurse is providing care for an 18-month-old toddler in the primary care provider's office. The primary care provider has finished performing the autism screening assessment (M-CHAT-R/F) on the child and noted a negative screening. Which of the following is true regarding this result?

A. The child has autism spectrum disorder. The child should be referred to an early intervention program: A negative M-CHAT-R/F screening does not indicate a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Referral to early intervention is reserved for children who screen positive or show concerning developmental delays. B. The child may still have autism spectrum disorder. The child should be screened again at 24 months old: The M-CHAT-R/F is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. Children can develop or exhibit signs of autism after 18 months, so rescreening at 24 months is recommended to identify late-emerging symptoms. This approach ensures ongoing monitoring of developmental progress. C. The child does not have autism spectrum disorder and further assessment is not warranted: A negative screen reduces concern but does not rule out autism. Symptoms may emerge later, and continued developmental surveillance is necessary. No single screening can definitively exclude the disorder. D. The child may or may not have autism spectrum disorder. The child needs to be rescreened with the correct tool for the age of the child: The M-CHAT-R/F is age-appropriate for 16–30 months. Since the child is 18 months old, the correct tool was used, so repeating with a different tool is not necessary. Monitoring at subsequent ages is appropriate.