Most screening tests of cognitive functioning require face to face administration by trained examiners. This limits their utility in epidemiology and in primary care settings. Further, existing screening tests have not been developed using established psychometric principles. We adapted the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-modified (TICSm) for administration as a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI). We screened 3,681 elderly women with the CATI version of the TICSm, using lay staff as part of a longitudinal study. A preliminary analysis of the psychometric properties of the TICSm indicated good internal consistency. Test-retest reliability is needed to confirm reliability. Further work remains to adequately judge the validity of the TICSm including comparisons with well-standardized tests and assessment of its predictive properties in identifying dementia. However, the CATI version of the TICSm appears to have potential as a cost-effective means of testing cognitive performance.