Comparison between the Hybrid Capture 2 and the hpVIR real-time PCR for detection of human papillomavirus in women with ASCUS or low grade dysplasia.
BACKGROUND
Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is an important part of cervical carcinoma screening, and the most widely used assay for detection of HPV is Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2).


OBJECTIVE
We compare the HC2 with the real-time PCR hpVIR assay for detection of HPV in follow-up smears of 398 women diagnosed with atypical squamous cells of unknown significance (ASCUS) or low grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 1) in their initial smear.


METHODS
The two assays target the same set of high-risk (HR) HPVs with exception of HPV68. hpVIR identify individual or groups of HPV types as well as their viral load, while HC2 identify HR HPVs without specification of type.


RESULTS
34% (131/391) of the women were positive with HC2 and 45% (175/391) with hpVIR. 16% (63/391) were positive only with hpVIR and among those with cytology available 6% (3/52) had a CIN 2. The 3% (13/391) of women positive only with HC2 either contained low-risk HPVs or copy numbers below the cut-off for the hpVIR assay.


CONCLUSIONS
The hpVIR assay has a similar sensitivity and specificity as HC2, but hpVIR detect a higher frequency of high-risk HPV infections.
Gustavsson
Inger
I
Department of Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, University of Uppsala, Dag Hammarskjöldsväg 20, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. inger.gustavsson@genpat.uu.se
Juko-Pecirep
Ivana
I
Backlund
Ingrid
I
Wilander
Erik
E
Gyllensten
Ulf
U
D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic