IMPROVED DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS INFECTION IN GENITAL INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS POSITIVE (HIV-REACTION IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION() WOMEN BY POLYMERASE CHAIN)

The prevalence of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was eva luated in 30 consecutive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)+ women by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-in situ hybridization (ISH) on paraffi n-embedded tissue sections and compared with that found with standard ISH. Biopsies were removed from normal or neoplastic areas in the cerv ix, vagina, and vulva, and ISH was performed with biotinylated or fluo rescein isothiocyanate genomic DNA probes. One probe was used for HPV screening and others for HPV typing (types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, and 33). Sequences were amplified by the ''hot-start'' PCR method and followed by standard ISH. Among the 30 HIV+ women, 90% scored HPV+ in one or s everal locations by PCR-ISH, whereas only 67% were positive by ISH. On cogenic HPV types were found in 63% by PCR-ISH and in only 43% by ISH. The same HPV types detected by standard ISH were also recognized by P CR-ISH, but with the latter the signal was amplified. Moreover, some H PV types were found with PCR-ISH but not by ISH. We conclude that PCR- ISH is a valuable and sensitive method for specific detection of HPV.