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