On February 14, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a grade D recommendation against routine serologic screening for genital herpes simplex virus infection in asymptomatic adolescents and adults, including pregnant individuals, reaffirming its 2016 recommendation that the harms outweigh the benefits in this population. This recommendation also aligns with corresponding guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The full recommendation statement was published in JAMA. In a companion editorial published by Yeung et al in JAMA Dermatology, authors outline the high bar needed to achieve screening benefits; the decrease in transmission of genital herpes and low positive predictive value of available tests; potential harms incurred by positive screening tests; and more.
April 30, 2023