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Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility
This topic is in the process of being updated. Please go to the Update in Progress section to see the latest documents available.
This topic page summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on genetic risk assessment and BRCA mutation testing for breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility.
Current Recommendation
Release Date: September 2005
- The USPSTF recommends against routine referral for genetic counseling or routine breast cancer susceptibility gene (BRCA) testing for women whose family history is not associated with an increased risk for deleterious mutations in breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) or breast cancer susceptibility gene 2 (BRCA2).
Grade: D Recommendation. - The USPSTF recommends that women whose family history is associated with an increased risk for deleterious mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes be referred for genetic counseling and evaluation for BRCA testing.
Grade: B Recommendation.
Supporting Documents
Recommendation Statement (PDF File, 220 KB; PDF Help)
Evidence Review (PDF File, 885 KB; PDF Help)
Evidence Synthesis (PDF File, 3.6 MB; PDF Help)
Update in Progress
In an effort to make the USPSTF recommendations clearer and its processes more transparent, the Task Force is sharing drafts of its Research Plans, Evidence Reports, and Recommendation Statements for public comment. As a result, the final Recommendation Statement is not yet available.
Supporting Documents
Research Plan
USPSTF members work with researchers from an independent Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) to create a Research Plan that guides the systematic review of the evidence. The Research Plan consists of an analytic framework, key questions, and a literature search strategy or research approach.
| Research Plan | Related Items |
|---|---|
| Final Research Plan | N/A |
Evidence Report
The research team at the Evidence-based Practice Center independently gathers and reviews the available published evidence to address the questions posed by the USPSTF. The resulting draft Evidence Report is critiqued by national subject matter experts and posted for public comment before being finalized.
| Evidence Report | Related Items |
|---|---|
| Draft Evidence Report for Public Comment (April 2–April 29, 2013) |
N/A |
Recommendation Statement
The USPSTF reviews the Evidence Report, evaluates the benefits and harms of the clinical preventive service, and discusses and develops one or more preliminary specific recommendations. The resulting draft Recommendation Statement is posted on this Web site for public comment before being finalized.
| Recommendation Statement | Related Items |
|---|---|
| Draft Recommendation Statement for Public Comment* (April 2–April 29, 2013) |
Consumer Fact Sheet (PDF File, 89 KB; PDF Help) |
* Note: Draft Recommendation Statements are by their nature not final, and should not be interpreted as to represent official USPSTF recommendations for practice. Draft Recommendation Statements are provided by the USPSTF for informational purposes only.
Current as of April 2013
Internet Citation:
Genetic Risk Assessment and BRCA Mutation Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility, Topic Page. April 2013. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsbrgen.htm
USPSTF Program Office |
