USPSTF releases draft recommendation on genital herpes screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued a draft recommendation advising against using current blood tests to screen for genital herpes in patients who have no signs or symptoms of infection. The recommendation would also apply to children, adolescents and pregnant women.

According to the USPSTF, researchers found that the benefits of screening were “no greater than small,” due in part to the fact that screening, early indication and treatment are unlikely to alter the course of the disease. Meanwhile, the potential harms of screening are “substantial,” according to the task force, due to the inaccuracy of the main blood tests currently available.

“While genital herpes is relatively common, testing is not generally helpful for people who have not experienced symptoms, in part because the tests are often inaccurate,” Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH, assistant dean for teaching and research on women’s health at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and a task force member, said in a press release. “Further, because there’s no cure, there isn’t much doctors and nurses can do for people who don’t have symptoms.”

According to the USPSTF, the draft is based on long-standing evidence and is consistent with the final recommendation issued by the task force in 2005. The new draft statement and evidence review has been posted for public comment on the USPSTF website, at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. Comments from the public will be accepted through Aug. 29, at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/tfcomment.htm.

Currently, no major public health organizations recommend universal screening for genital herpes in asymptomatic patients.

The USPSTF recommends screening for other sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. In addition, the task force recommends behavioral counseling for high-risk populations to reduce the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections.

“People should be aware of the signs and symptoms of genital herpes and should talk to their doctor or nurse if they are concerned,” Ann E. Kurth, PhD, CNM, MSN, MPH, dean of the Yale School of Nursing, said in a press release. “This is especially true for women who are pregnant because there are things clinicians can do to help women who have genital herpes protect their babies during delivery.”

Additional reading:

http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Name/newsroom