USPSTF Recommends Against Screening for HCV Infection

The USPSTF concludes that the harms of HCV screening outweigh the benefits in the general population.

The third U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has been releasing new and updated guidelines during the past 3 years (guidelines homepage; Journal Watch May 15 2001 and Journal Watch Feb 17 2004).

USPSTF 3 concludes each of its guidelines with a recommendation, graded as follows:

A -- The intervention is strongly recommended.

B -- The intervention is recommended.

C -- The USPSTF makes no recommendation for or against the intervention.

D -- The intervention is not routinely recommended.

I -- Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the intervention.

The USPSTF recommends against routine screening for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in asymptomatic adults. Although tests can detect HCV infection, and therapy can improve interme…

Reviewing Author

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM