title: Hybrid capture 2 test results after an initial equivocal RLU/CO value are dependent on age.
abstract: The effect of age on Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) tests initially falling within the equivocal range has not been determined. We identified 359 cervicovaginal liquid cytology specimens with initial equivocal values. First and second retest relative light units/cutoff (RLU/CO) values were compared for women of 3 different age groups (15-29, 30-49, and ≥50 years). The proportion of first retests with an RLU/CO of less than 1 increased with age (P < .001). Of the 56 second retests performed, only 4 had an RLU/CO of 1 or more. The proportion of "positive" HC2 results following the current HC2 algorithm decreased with increasing age (P < .001), showing that HC2 test results after an initial equivocal value are dependent on age. Follow-up demonstrated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) in 6 (5.9%) women 15 to 29 years old and in 5 (6.3%) women 30 to 49 years old. No CIN2+ was found on follow-up of 34 of 57 women 50 years and older. These results likely reflect human papillomavirus infection prevalence and question the use of identical cutoff values regardless of age for detection of CIN2+.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
authors.forename: Camille T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.forename: Christiaan E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: Adrian A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Suarez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology