USPSTF Recommends Against Routine BRCA Testing

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has been releasing new and updated guidelines periodically (guidelines homepage).

The USPSTF 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.

For the first time, the USPSTF has reviewed the evidence for genetic counseling and DNA-based genetic testing for breast cancer associated (BRCA) genes. Because harms outweigh benefits, the USPSTF recommends against genetic counseling and testing for BRCA gen…