Objective:To examine the reliability and validity of the telephone version of Information-Memory-Concentration Test (T-IMCT) in screening dementia when administered by telephone To evaluate the relation of the face-to-face and the telephonic interview for assessing the cognitive status Methods:T-IMCT was adapted from Information-Memory-Concentration test for the telephonic interview 65 subjects with dementia and 67 normal control subjects were examined by an experienced clinician, including clinical, neuropsychological and instrumental examination (CT or MRI) T-IMCT was administrated by telephone after 2 weeks, comparing the score from face-to-face interview with telephonic interview 20 subjects were administered the test twice by the same doctor to measure the test-retest reliability, and another 20 subjects were administered the test by two doctors to measure the inter-rater reliability Informants supervised the subjects to insure the authenticity of assessment administered by telephone Results:T-IMCT achieved a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 80 6% in differentiating demented from healthy control subjects There was a high correlation between face-to-face interview and telephonic interview, Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0 92 (P