A & B Recommendations

A listing of all the Recommendations with a grade of either A or B.

A and B grade recommendations are services that the Task Force most highly recommends implementing for preventive
care and that are also relevant for implementing the Affordable Care Act. These preventive services have a high or
moderate net benefit for patients.

Release Date of
Topic Description Grade Current
Recommendation

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The USPSTF recommends 1-time screening for abdominal
Screening: men aged 65 to 75 aortic aneurysm (AAA) with ultrasonography in men aged B December 2019 *
years who have ever smoked 65 to 75 years who have ever smoked.

Anxiety Disorders in Adults:

Screening: adults 64 years or The USPSTF recommends screening for anxiety disorders in
B June 2023
younger, including pregnant adults, including pregnant and postpartum persons.
and postpartum persons

Anxiety in Children and

Adolescents: Screening: The USPSTF recommends screening for anxiety in children
B October 2022
children and adolescents and adolescents aged 8 to 18 years.
aged 8 to 18 years

Aspirin Use to Prevent

The USPSTF recommends the use of low-dose aspirin (81
Preeclampsia and Related
mg/day) as preventive medication after 12 weeks of
Morbidity and Mortality:
gestation in persons who are at high risk for preeclampsia. B September 2021 *
Preventive Medication:
See the Practice Considerations section for information on
pregnant persons at high risk
high risk and aspirin dose.
for preeclampsia

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in
The USPSTF recommends screening for asymptomatic
Adults: Screening: pregnant B September 2019 *
bacteriuria using urine culture in pregnant persons.
persons

BRCA-Related Cancer: Risk

The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians
Assessment, Genetic
assess women with a personal or family history of breast,
Counseling, and Genetic
ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer or who have an ancestry
Testing: women with a
associated with breast cancer susceptibility 1 and 2
personal or family history of B August 2019 *
(BRCA1/2) gene mutations with an appropriate brief familial
breast, ovarian, tubal, or
risk assessment tool. Women with a positive result on the
peritoneal cancer or an
risk assessment tool should receive genetic counseling and,
ancestry associated with
if indicated after counseling, genetic testing.
brca1/2 gene mutation

Breast Cancer: Medication The USPSTF recommends that clinicians offer to prescribe

Use to Reduce Risk: women risk-reducing medications, such as tamoxifen, raloxifene, or

at increased risk for breast aromatase inhibitors, to women who are at increased risk B September 2019 *
cancer aged 35 years or older for breast cancer and at low risk for adverse medication
effects.

Breast Cancer: Screening: The USPSTF recommends biennial screening

B January 2016 *
women aged 50 to 74 years mammography for women aged 50 to 74 years. †

Breastfeeding: Primary Care

Interventions: pregnant The USPSTF recommends providing interventions during
B October 2016 *
women, new mothers, and pregnancy and after birth to support breastfeeding.
their children

The USPSTF recommends screening for cervical cancer

every 3 years with cervical cytology alone in women aged 21
to 29 years. For women aged 30 to 65 years, the USPSTF
recommends screening every 3 years with cervical cytology
Cervical Cancer: Screening: alone, every 5 years with high-risk human papillomavirus
A August 2018 *
women aged 21 to 65 years (hrHPV) testing alone, or every 5 years with hrHPV testing in
combination with cytology (cotesting). See the Clinical
Considerations section for the relative benefits and harms
of alternative screening strategies for women 21 years or
older.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea:

The USPSTF recommends screening for gonorrhea in all
Screening: sexually active
sexually active women 24 years or younger and in women B September 2021 *
women, including pregnant
25 years or older who are at increased risk for infection.
persons

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea:

The USPSTF recommends screening for chlamydia in all
Screening: sexually active
sexually active women 24 years or younger and in women B September 2021 *
women, including pregnant
25 years or older who are at increased risk for infection.
persons

The USPSTF recommends screening for colorectal cancer in

Colorectal Cancer: Screening: adults aged 45 to 49 years. See the "Practice
B May 2021 *
adults aged 45 to 49 years Considerations" section and Table 1 for details about
screening strategies.

The USPSTF recommends screening for colorectal cancer in

Colorectal Cancer: Screening: all adults aged 50 to 75 years. See the "Practice
A May 2021 *
adults aged 50 to 75 years Considerations" section and Table 1 for details about
screening strategies.

Depression and Suicide Risk

in Adults: Screening: adults, The USPSTF recommends screening for depression in the
including pregnant and adult population, including pregnant and postpartum B June 2023 *
postpartum persons, and persons, as well as older adults.
older adults (65 years or older)

Depression and Suicide Risk

in Children and Adolescents: The USPSTF recommends screening for major depressive B October 2022 *
Screening: adolescents aged disorder (MDD) in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years.
12 to 18 years

Falls Prevention in
The USPSTF recommends exercise interventions to prevent
Community-Dwelling Older
falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older who B April 2018 *
Adults: Interventions: adults
are at increased risk for falls.
65 years or older

Folic Acid Supplementation

to Prevent Neural Tube The USPSTF recommends that all persons planning to or
Defects: Preventive who could become pregnant take a daily supplement A August 2023 *
Medication: persons who plan containing 0.4 to 0.8 mg (400 to 800 mcg) of folic acid.
to or could become pregnant

Gestational Diabetes:
The USPSTF recommends screening for gestational
Screening: asymptomatic
diabetes in asymptomatic pregnant persons at 24 weeks of B August 2021 *
pregnant persons at 24 weeks
gestation or after.
of gestation or after

Healthy Diet and Physical

Activity for Cardiovascular
Disease Prevention in Adults The USPSTF recommends offering or referring adults with
With Cardiovascular Risk cardiovascular disease risk factors to behavioral counseling
B November 2020 *
Factors: Behavioral interventions to promote a healthy diet and physical
Counseling Interventions: activity.
adults with cardiovascular
disease risk factors

Healthy Weight and Weight The USPSTF recommends that clinicians offer pregnant
Gain In Pregnancy: Behavioral persons effective behavioral counseling interventions
B May 2021
Counseling Interventions: aimed at promoting healthy weight gain and preventing
pregnant persons excess gestational weight gain in pregnancy.

Hepatitis B Virus Infection in The USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis B virus
Adolescents and Adults: (HBV) infection in adolescents and adults at increased risk
Screening: adolescents and for infection. See the Practice Considerations section for a B December 2020 *
adults at increased risk for description of adolescents and adults at increased risk for
infection infection.

Hepatitis B Virus Infection in The USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis B virus
Pregnant Women: Screening: (HBV) infection in pregnant women at their first prenatal A July 2019 *
pregnant women visit

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in

Adolescents and Adults: The USPSTF recommends screening for hepatitis C virus
B March 2020 *
Screening: adults aged 18 to (HCV) infection in adults aged 18 to 79 years.
79 years

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen for HIV

Human Immunodeficiency infection in adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65 years.
Virus (HIV) Infection: Younger adolescents and older adults who are at increased
A June 2019 *
Screening: adolescents and risk of infection should also be screened. See the Clinical
adults aged 15 to 65 years Considerations section for more information about
assessment of risk, screening intervals, and rescreening in
pregnancy.

Human Immunodeficiency The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen for HIV
Virus (HIV) Infection: infection in all pregnant persons, including those who A June 2019 *
Screening: pregnant persons present in labor or at delivery whose HIV status is unknown.

The USPSTF recommends screening for hypertension in

Hypertension in Adults: adults 18 years or older with office blood pressure
Screening: adults 18 years or measurement (OBPM). The USPSTF recommends
A April 2021 *
older without known obtaining blood pressure measurements outside of the
hypertension clinical setting for diagnostic confirmation before starting
treatment.

Hypertensive Disorders of
The USPSTF recommends screening for hypertensive
Pregnancy: Screening:
disorders in pregnant persons with blood pressure B September 2023 *
asymptomatic pregnant
measurements throughout pregnancy.
persons

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen for

Intimate Partner Violence, intimate partner violence (IPV) in women of reproductive
Elder Abuse, and Abuse of age and provide or refer women who screen positive to
B October 2018 *
Vulnerable Adults: Screening: ongoing support services. See the Clinical Considerations
women of reproductive age section for more information on effective ongoing support
services for IPV and for information on IPV in men.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection

in Adults: Screening: The USPSTF recommends screening for LTBI in populations
asymptomatic adults at at increased risk. See the "Assessment of Risk" section for B May 2023 *
increased risk of latent additional information on adults at increased risk.
tuberculosis infection (ltbi)

The USPSTF recommends annual screening for lung cancer

Lung Cancer: Screening: with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) in adults
adults aged 50 to 80 years aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking
who have a 20 pack-year history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15
smoking history and currently years. Screening should be discontinued once a person has B March 2021 *
smoke or have quit within the not smoked for 15 years or develops a health problem that
past 15 years substantially limits life expectancy or the ability or
willingness to have curative lung surgery.

Obesity in Children and The USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen for obesity
Adolescents: Screening: in children and adolescents 6 years and older and offer or
B June 2017 *
children and adolescents 6 refer them to comprehensive, intensive behavioral
years and older interventions to promote improvements in weight status.
Ocular Prophylaxis for
The USPSTF recommends prophylactic ocular topical
Gonococcal Ophthalmia
medication for all newborns to prevent gonococcal A January 2019 *
Neonatorum: Preventive
ophthalmia neonatorum.
Medication: newborns

The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis with

Osteoporosis to Prevent
bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic
Fractures: Screening:
fractures in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years
postmenopausal women B June 2018 *
who are at increased risk of osteoporosis, as determined by
younger than 65 years at
a formal clinical risk assessment tool. See the Clinical
increased risk of osteoporosis
Considerations section for information on risk assessment.

Osteoporosis to Prevent The USPSTF recommends screening for osteoporosis with

Fractures: Screening: women bone measurement testing to prevent osteoporotic B June 2018 *
65 years and older fractures in women 65 years and older.

Perinatal Depression:
The USPSTF recommends that clinicians provide or refer
Preventive Interventions:
pregnant and postpartum persons who are at increased B February 2019
pregnant and postpartum
risk of perinatal depression to counseling interventions.
persons

Prediabetes and Type 2 The USPSTF recommends screening for prediabetes and
Diabetes: Screening: type 2 diabetes in adults aged 35 to 70 years who have
asymptomatic adults aged 35 overweight or obesity. Clinicians should offer or refer B August 2021 *
to 70 years who have patients with prediabetes to effective preventive
overweight or obesity interventions.

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians prescribe

preexposure prophylaxis using effective antiretroviral
Prevention of Acquisition of
therapy to persons who are at increased risk of HIV
HIV: Preexposure Prophylaxis:
acquisition to decrease the risk of acquiring HIV. See the A August 2023 *
adolescents and adults at
Practice Considerations section for more information about
increased risk of hiv
identification of persons at increased risk and about
effective antiretroviral therapy.

Prevention of Dental Caries in

Children Younger Than 5 The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians apply
Years: Screening and fluoride varnish to the primary teeth of all infants and B December 2021 *
Interventions: children children starting at the age of primary tooth eruption.
younger than 5 years

Prevention of Dental Caries in

The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians
Children Younger Than 5
prescribe oral fluoride supplementation starting at age 6
Years: Screening and B December 2021 *
months for children whose water supply is deficient in
Interventions: children
fluoride.
younger than 5 years

Rh(D) Incompatibility:
The USPSTF strongly recommends Rh(D) blood typing and
Screening: pregnant women,
antibody testing for all pregnant women during their first A February 2004 *
during the first pregnancy-
related care visit visit for pregnancy-related care.

The USPSTF recommends repeated Rh(D) antibody testing

Rh(D) Incompatibility:
for all unsensitized Rh(D)-negative women at 24 to 28
Screening: unsensitized rh(d)- B February 2004 *
weeks' gestation, unless the biological father is known to be
negative pregnant women
Rh(D)-negative.

Sexually Transmitted The USPSTF recommends behavioral counseling for all

Infections: Behavioral sexually active adolescents and for adults who are at
Counseling: sexually active increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). See B August 2020 *
adolescents and adults at the Practice Considerations section for more information
increased risk on populations at increased risk for acquiring STIs.

The USPSTF recommends counseling young adults,

Skin Cancer Prevention:
adolescents, children, and parents of young children about
Behavioral Counseling: young
minimizing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation for B March 2018 *
adults, adolescents, children,
persons aged 6 months to 24 years with fair skin types to
and parents of young children
reduce their risk of skin cancer.

Statin Use for the Primary

Prevention of Cardiovascular
Disease in Adults: Preventive The USPSTF recommends that clinicians prescribe a statin
Medication: adults aged 40 to for the primary prevention of CVD for adults aged 40 to 75
75 years who have 1 or more years who have 1 or more CVD risk factors (i.e. dyslipidemia, B August 2022 *
cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and an estimated 10-
an estimated 10-year year risk of a cardiovascular event of 10% or greater.
cardiovascular disease (cvd)
risk of 10% or greater

Syphilis Infection in
Nonpregnant Adolescents
and Adults: Screening:
The USPSTF recommends screening for syphilis infection in
asymptomatic, nonpregnant A September 2022 *
persons who are at increased risk for infection.
adolescents and adults who
are at increased risk for
syphilis infection

Syphilis Infection in Pregnant The USPSTF recommends early screening for syphilis
Women: Screening: pregnant infection in all pregnant women. A September 2018 *
women

The USPSTF recommends that clinicians ask all adults

Tobacco Smoking Cessation
about tobacco use, advise them to stop using tobacco, and
in Adults, Including Pregnant
provide behavioral interventions and US Food and Drug A January 2021 *
Persons: Interventions:
Administration (FDA)--approved pharmacotherapy for
nonpregnant adults
cessation to nonpregnant adults who use tobacco.

Tobacco Smoking Cessation The USPSTF recommends that clinicians ask all pregnant
in Adults, Including Pregnant persons about tobacco use, advise them to stop using
A January 2021 *
Persons: Interventions: tobacco, and provide behavioral interventions for cessation
pregnant persons to pregnant persons who use tobacco.

Tobacco Use in Children and

Adolescents: Primary Care The USPSTF recommends that primary care clinicians
Interventions: school-aged provide interventions, including education or brief
B April 2020 *
children and adolescents who counseling, to prevent initiation of tobacco use among
have not started to use school-aged children and adolescents.
tobacco

Unhealthy Alcohol Use in The USPSTF recommends screening for unhealthy alcohol
Adolescents and Adults: use in primary care settings in adults 18 years or older,
Screening and Behavioral including pregnant women, and providing persons
B November 2018 *
Counseling Interventions: engaged in risky or hazardous drinking with brief
adults 18 years or older, behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy
including pregnant women alcohol use.

The USPSTF recommends screening by asking questions

about unhealthy drug use in adults age 18 years or older.
Unhealthy Drug Use: Screening should be implemented when services for
Screening: adults age 18 years accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and appropriate B June 2020
or older care can be offered or referred. (Screening refers to asking
questions about unhealthy drug use, not testing biological
specimens.)

Vision in Children Ages 6 The USPSTF recommends vision screening at least once in
Months to 5 Years: Screening: all children aged 3 to 5 years to detect amblyopia or its risk B September 2017 *
children aged 3 to 5 years factors.

Weight Loss to Prevent The USPSTF recommends that clinicians offer or refer
Obesity-Related Morbidity adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher
and Mortality in Adults: (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in B September 2018 *
Behavioral Interventions: meters squared) to intensive, multicomponent behavioral
adults interventions.

†The Department of Health and Human Services, under the standards set out in revised Section 2713(a)(5) of the Public
Health Service Act and Section 223 of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, utilizes the 2002 recommendation on
breast cancer screening of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. To see the USPSTF 2016 recommendation on breast
cancer screening, go to http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/breast-cancer-screening1.

*Previous recommendation was an “A” or “B.”