HPV DNA Test
HPV virus is a highly contagious and common virus that is 99% sexually transmitted and causes HPV infection. HPV can be transmitted to men and women at any age. HPV virus is now common in our country as well as all over the world. The probability of HPV transmission is independent of socio-cultural and economic levels, and every woman is at risk.
More than 100 types of HPV have been identified, 40 of which affect the anus and genital (anogenital) organs. 15-20 of them are high-risk cancer-causing (oncogenic) types. These HPV types can cause changes in the female genital area that can go up to cancer, as well as formations such as condyloma and warts in both men and women.
HPV infection is asymptomatic but is the most common among sexually transmitted diseases. Cervical cancer, which is caused by infection by some types of HPV, is the second most common type of cancer in women after breast cancer.
Not all types of HPV cause cervical cancer. Some types are at higher risk in terms of causing malignant changes. Therefore, not only the presence of HPV, but also knowing which HPV types are carried is important for early detection and prevention of progression towards cancer. These high-risk types of HPV are found in more than 90% of cervical cancers.
HPV Diagnostic Tests
- Pap smear test
- HPV DNA Test (PCR) / HPV PCR
- HPV Type Test
- HPV Test
- Biopsy: Koilocytosis, pycnotic nucleus, acanthosis, multinucleation
- Genital Wart Test
When is the HPV test done?
In case of suspicious findings or abnormal cells in the Pap smear, your doctor may request HPV research. There are many types of HPV. While some of them only cause genital warts, some are closely related to cervical cancer. HPV PCR Genital wart test
Considerations before HPV testing
You should not have a menstrual period while giving an HPV sample. You should not use a vaginal douche, cream or medication within 72 hours before the procedure. You must not have sexual intercourse within 24 hours before the test. Your bladder should be empty to be more comfortable during the procedure.
How is HPV test done in women?
This procedure is not different from gynecological examination and pap smear. The sample taken by brushing the vaginal walls and cervix surface is sent to the laboratory under special sample storage conditions.
Sample collection for HPV DNA testing is completely painless and does not require anesthesia. It takes 1-2 minutes to take a sample for HPV PCR DNA test / Genital wart test. You can easily return to your daily life after the procedure.
If infection is detected as a result of HPV DNA Test, HPV virus typing should be done first. If the results show HPV infection, which carries a high risk for cervical cancer, advanced diagnostic methods should be applied and the treatment process should be started without delay.
Sampling from our female patients is done by our contracted gynecologist doctor, located in the same building and on the same floor.
How is HPV test done in men?
In men, HPV PCR DNA test / genital wart test can be studied from the swab material taken from the penis. If there is a lesion in another place such as the testis, a swab or piece can be taken from there and analyzed.
Our specialist doctor takes samples from our male patients.
Detection of Viral Proteins
Papillomavirus capsid antigens can be detected in tissue sections or swab samples by any immunological method using genus-specific antisera that cross-reacts between all types. These tests are only used to detect productive infection, although they are more sensitive than EM examination of viral particles, they are still not sensitive enough.
Since the antiserum cross-reacts with all HPV types, a positive reaction does not indicate the HPV type. In addition, a negative result does not rule out HPV infection, because capsid antigen is not always expressed in the same way in specimens with histological diagnosis of verruca, but an HPV response occurs. HPV type-specific IgG antibody positivity may persist for years. Therefore, serological tests are not suitable for distinguishing between acute and past infections.
Viral Nucleic Acid Detection
Since there is no reliable serological test in the differential diagnosis of past or current HPV infection and virus isolation cannot be performed, the definitive diagnosis is based on the demonstration of HPV DNA in the sample.
Molecular diagnostic tests used in the diagnosis of HPV infection can be examined in 4 groups.
1) Hybridization tests:
ISH , southern blot hybridization ( SBH ), dot blot hybridization ( DBH ) and filter in situ hybridization ( FISH )
2) Hybrid Capture test (HC, Hybrid capture test):
Direct DNA testing using signal amplification
3) Polymerase chain reaction ( Polymerase chain reaction; PCR ):
DNA amplification testing
4) Microchip array test:
In the last few years, significant progress has been made in studies on the methods used in HPV DNA / genital wart testing. As a result, a new diagnostic field called chip array technology has emerged. Over time, this technology has been widely used in the world for the detection of frequently observed genetic diseases and common infectious agents such as HPV.
With the use of this method as an HPV test, kits with in vitro diagnostic (IVD) approval have been developed. Today; HPV kits developed by Genomica are used in many laboratories, especially in Europe.
The system developed by Genomica has very important advantages over other methods:
- Being a standardized closed system
- Availability of IVD approved HPV DNA diagnostic kits
- Identifying 35 different HPV types
- have 99% sensitivity
- 100% specificity
Use of the HPV Test
The HPV PCR Genital Wart test has three main uses.
- Can be used in conjunction with Pap smear test in women over 30 years of age to screen for cervical cancer
- In the referral of women diagnosed with ASCUS (Atypic squamous cells of undetermined significence)
- Follow-up of women after treatment
Sensitivity of HPV DNA test in detecting cervical precancerous lesions is higher (85–100%) than Pap smear. But its specificity is 65-95% and less. Although the sensitivity of the Pap smear test for the detection of high-grade lesions is between 55-70%, its specificity is over 92%.
New schemes have been developed for the diagnosis of cervical precancerous lesions, combining cytological screening and HPV DNA analysis. In addition, it is possible to identify patients who will be selected for therapeutic and prophylactic immunization with HPV testing. At least 50% of women with persistent HPV infection develop HSIL. Those at risk are recognized early by performing the HPV test on women over the age of 30. The clinical significance of HPV testing in women younger than 20 years of age is of little importance.
The use of HPV test in cervical cancer screening is important because; The negative predictive value of a normal Pap smear and negative HPV DNA test is 95-100%. In these women, the screening interval can be increased to three years.
There are three options to be applied to cases with ASCUS; Repeat Pap smear test after 4-6 months, colposcopy or HPV DNA test can be done immediately. . 82% of cases with an ASCUS report have normal cervical cytology. HSIL is present in 5-18% of women diagnosed with ASCUS. By performing the HPV test in this group, colposcopy is performed only for those who are positive for HPV.
The positivity of the HPV test result in the ASCUS group is highly correlated with the presence of HSIL and the sensitivity is 94%. If HPV is negative while ASCUS is positive, the test is repeated 6-11 months later, if positive results are obtained, colposcopy and treatment if necessary.
If cervical cytology is normal but HPV DNA is positive, both tests are repeated after 6-12 months. If the retest result is positive for persistent HR HPV infection or the cytological test is positive, colposcopy should be performed. HPV testing can also be used in the follow-up of patients treated for precancerous disease. The incidence of residual or recurrent precancerous lesions varies between 5-10%. In the follow-up of the treated patients, it is recommended to perform the HPV DNA test in addition to cytology after 6-14 months.
Where can I get an HPV test?
Visit our page for detailed information about HPV Treatment <—-.