Q: Based on the status, has my manuscript passed the Associate Editor (AE) screening?

We can understand why you have that question, as your manuscript moved so quickly to Under Review. Now, this may be because this is a rapid publication journal. However, Under Review may sometimes also refer to the internal review by the journal – by the AE. So, perhaps, this is undergoing AE screening. In case the manuscript remains at this status for a couple of weeks, this would, in contrast, mean that it has gone for the peer review. Alternatively, if it changes to something like Reviewers Invited, it would mean it has cleared the AE screening and is now awaiting peer review.

All this sounds a bit fuzzy, so you should wait for a couple of weeks for things to become clearer. In case it’s still not so, you may then consider mailing the AE seeking clarity on the status.

For more on the Under Review status, you may go through these similar queries by other researchers:

• Does "Under Review" mean that the paper has passed the editorial check?
• Does "Under Review" mean the paper has been assigned to an external reviewer?

And for more on the processing a manuscript goes through after submission, you may go through these articles:

• A journal editor's insight into what happens post manuscript submission
• What are the possible outcomes for a manuscript?

Hope that helps. All the best for the next update on your manuscript!