In order to screen a high-performance detector for spatial heterodyne spectrometer, a method of detector screening and testing is proposed. Parameters of detectors which influence the spectral reconstruction of spatial heterodyne spectrometer are determined by simulations, and the screen method based on these parameters are obtained. The experiments are conducted with the designed screening and testing setup. Through processing and analyzing the experimental data, the optimal array detector is chosen from the alternate detectors. The satellite-borne detector obtained by screening and testing has already been used in the spatial heterodyne spectrometer and passed a series of test evaluations.