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- US Preventive Services Task Force Issues Draft Recommendations on Screening for Cervical Cancer
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently posted a draft recommendation statement on screening for cervical cancer. The recommended changes include HPV primary screening every 5 years as the preferred screening strategy starting at the age of 30 years and self-collected HPV testing. The USPSTF believes these updates will increase testing among the generally under screened for the first time.
The Task Force concludes that adequate evidence demonstrates similarity in the accuracy of self-collected screening and clinician-collected HPV screening. USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen women ages 21 to 29 every 3 years with a Pap test. For women ages 30 to 65, the Task Force recommends screening with an HPV test every 5 years. Alternative effective screening options for women 30 to 65 include getting a Pap test every 3 years or getting a combined HPV and Pap test every 5 years, also known as co-testing. The USPSTF recommends this due to the high certainty that the net benefit is substantial.
The Task Force recommends against screening women younger than age 21, women older than age 65 who have had regular screenings with normal test results, and women of any age who have had regular screenings with normal test results, and women of any age who have had a total hysterectomy. The USPSTF said there is moderate or high certainty that the recommendation has no net benefit to the patient.
All three screening methods—HPV tests, Pap tests, and co-testing—are recommended by the Task Force.
The group's draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review have been posted for public comment on the Task Force website. Comments can be submitted through January 13, 2025 online.
The CAP is reviewing the draft recommendations. Read the full recommendations here.