Short Name: HPV
Sample required: Cervical and Endocervical samples
Result Time: 2 Days
Human papillomaviruses cause benign tumors of the skin, mucous membranes and the epidermal stratum germinativum (verrucas, papillomas and condylomas). They are very resistant to environmental conditions and transmission occurs via skin-to-skin, especially sexual contact. There are many different genotypes, some of which are known to be oncogenic, e.g. genotypes 16, 18 and 33 are associated with cancer of the cervix and of the anal canal. Papillomaviruses cannot be cultured and serological analysis is not possible but the infection can be diagnosed and the genotype involved can be ascertained by analysis of viral DNA (PCR assay) in biopsy material or in a specimen prepared from infected mucocutaneous tissue.