title: Serologic Screening for Genital Herpes Infection: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.
abstract: Genital herpes is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States, occurring in almost 1 in 6 persons aged 14 to 49 years. Infection is caused by 2 subtypes of the herpes simplex virus (HSV), HSV-1 and HSV-2. Antiviral medications may provide symptomatic relief from outbreaks but do not cure HSV infection. Neonatal herpes infection, while uncommon, can result in substantial morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  
  To update the 2005 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation on screening for genital herpes.
  
  
  
  The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the accuracy, benefits, and harms of serologic screening for HSV-2 infection in asymptomatic persons, including those who are pregnant, as well as the effectiveness and harms of preventive medications and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce future symptomatic episodes and transmission to others.
  
  
  
  Based on the natural history of HSV infection, its epidemiology, and the available evidence on the accuracy of serologic screening tests, the USPSTF concluded that the harms outweigh the benefits of serologic screening for genital HSV infection in asymptomatic adolescents and adults, including those who are pregnant.
  
  
  
  The USPSTF recommends against routine serologic screening for genital HSV infection in asymptomatic adolescents and adults, including those who are pregnant. (D recommendation).
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bibbins-Domingo
authors.affiliation: Group Health Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.affiliation: University of Iowa, Iowa City.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.affiliation: Columbia University, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Karina W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.affiliation: State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Epling
authors.affiliation: Pima County Department of Health, Tucson, Arizona.
authors.forename: Francisco A R
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Alex R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kemper
authors.affiliation: Fairfax Family Practice Residency, Fairfax, Virginia9Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond.
authors.forename: Alex H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Krist
authors.affiliation: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Ann E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: C Seth
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Landefeld
authors.affiliation: University of California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Carol M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mangione
authors.affiliation: University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Maureen G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Phipps
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin.
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pignone
authors.affiliation: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silverstein
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii, Manoa.
authors.forename: Chien-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D026683:Advisory Committees; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012698:Serologic Tests; D055815:Young Adult