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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Genital Herpes Infection: Serologic Screening

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: February 2023

Workgroups: Sexually Transmitted Infections Workgroup, Access to Health Services Workgroup

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against routine serologic screening for genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the general population. This recommendation applies to all adolescents and adults (including pregnant women) who don’t have a known history, signs, or symptoms of HSV. USPSTF found that screening is limited by the low predictive value of the widely available serologic screening tests and the expected high rate of false-positive results that is likely to happen with routine screening of asymptomatic people.

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Objectives related to this resource (1)

Increase the proportion of adults who get recommended evidence-based preventive health care — AHS‑08
Getting worse

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2023). Genital Herpes Infection: Serologic Screening. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/genital-herpes-serologic-screening