title: Detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical swabs by the polymerase chain reaction: an evaluation of the sensitivity of the method in patients with HPV 16-harboring cervical lesions.
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA in cervical swabs from 37 patients with HPV 16-harboring cervical lesions (15 carcinomas and 22 cervical intraepithelial neoplasias). Primers amplifying a sequence of the human beta-globin genome were used for internal control together with the HPV 16-specific primers. The cell samples were prepared for PCR analysis by two different methods: either by phenol/chloroform extraction or by boiling in the presence of a chelating agent. HPV 16 DNA was found in 27 swabs. The detection rates were identical with both methods of preparation. Four of the 10 false-negative swabs contained too little DNA to permit amplification with the genomic primers. Excluding these insufficient samples, the detection rate was 82%. Reasons for false-negative results may include low cell numbers or failure to obtain cells representative of the underlying lesion. In conclusion, the PCR offers a satisfactory method of HPV detection in cervical swabs. Cell preparation can be restricted to simple boiling with a chelating agent. For optimal results, samples containing less than 2 x 10(4) cells should be discarded, and genomic primers should be used for internal control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rigshospitalet, University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hørding
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daugaard
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bock
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000821:virology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral