title: Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA assay as an adjunct to liquid-based Pap test in the diagnostic triage of women with an abnormal Pap smear.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The diagnostic performance and clinical value of the combined use of liquid-based Pap test and human papillomavirus testing were determined in 336 patients with a previous abnormal smear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subsequent histologic evaluation was used as definitive diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combined use of liquid-based Pap test and HPV DNA testing showed higher rates in sensitivity (99.0%), specificity (59.3%), positive predictive value (89.9%) and negative predictive value (94.5%) than either cytology alone (sensitivity 98.8%, specificity 45.7%, positive predictive value 84.7%, negative predictive value 92.6%) or HPV DNA testing alone (sensitivity 84.9%, specificity 67.4%, positive predictive value 88.8%, negative predictive value 59.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrated that the diagnostic accuracy for cervical cancer and its precursors was improved by using the liquid-based Pap test as a primary diagnostic procedure and HPV assay as an adjunctive test. This information may assist the clinicians in triaging patients with equivocal cytologic cervical atypias.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cytology and Clinical Pathology, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vassilakos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Marval
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Broquet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Campana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral