U.S. Preventive Services Task Force HBV-Screening Recommendations

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended HBV screening for pregnant women — but not testing of asymptomatic nonpregnant adolescents or adults — for many years. Since 2004, when the Task Force last issued a recommendation on this topic, evidence for the benefits of treating patients with chronic HBV infection has been accumulating. Based on what the Task Force recognizes as “adequate” evidence that vaccination protects against HBV acquisition, “convincing” evidence that antiviral treatment of HBV-infected patients improves intermediate outcomes (e.g., histologic improvement), and “adequate” evidence that treatment improves actual health outcomes (reduced risk for liver cancer), it now recommends HBV screening of high-…