Reaffirmed USPSTF Recommendation Against Serologic Screening for Genital Herpes: Empowering Clinicians and Reducing Potential Harm

The US Preventive Services Task Force has reaffirmed its 2016 recommendation against population-based serologic genital herpes screening in asymptomatic adults and adolescents, including pregnant persons (D recommendation).¹ With little new data identified in a focused evidence update (ie, no new eligible studies were included),² the current 2023 recommendation reaffirmed with moderate certainty that the potential harms of serologic screening for genital herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 infection in asymptomatic individuals outweigh potential benefits.¹ This recommendation aligns with corresponding guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention³ and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.⁴