HPV-DNA hybrid capture test: influence of cellularity in penile samples.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate if the cellularity of Hybrid Capture samples (Digene, São Paulo, Brazil) influences the results of HPV-DNA Hybrid Capture tests in men.


METHODS
We harvested material from penile scrapings for the Hybrid Capture HPV test. This material was then used to make cytologic smears, which we used to evaluate for the presence of nonnucleated squamous cells, nucleated squamous cells and glandular cells. The cellularity of nucleated squamous cells was classified as absent, low, moderate or high. Subsequently, we performed the Hybrid Capture test to identify the low and high risk of HPV and compared these results with the cytologic findings. We used the Fisher and odds ratio tests at CI of 95% to determine statistical significance.


RESULTS
Of the 88 tests performed, 65 (74.0%) were negative for HPV-DNA and 23 (26.0%) were positive. Nucleated and nonnucleated squamous cells were absent on nine slides, all of which tested negative for HPV. When only nonnudcleated squamous cells were found, 20% of the cases were positive for HPV-DNA (p < 0.0001; OR = 26.185). The presence of nucleated squamous cells correlated with 33% HPV-DNA positivity (p < 0.0001, OR = 49.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Assessing the presence of non-nucleated and nucleated squamous cells on cytologic smears prior to performing an HPV-DNA test is a useful tool for quality control in penile samples.
Eleutério
José
J
Department of Mother and Child Health, Federal University of Ceará, Brazil. labpec@yahoo.com.br
Barros
Ivna Cavalcante
IC
Cavalcante
Diane Isabelle Magno
DI
Eleutério
Renata Mirian Nunes
RM
Giraldo
Paulo César
PC
D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D015344:DNA Probes, HPV / Q000235:genetics; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D010409:Penile Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology
D015344:DNA Probes, HPV; D004279:DNA, Viral