DIAGNOSIS OF GENITAL-INFECTION CAUSED BY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS USING IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION - THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SIZE OF THE BIOPSY SPECIMEN

Aim - To determine the size of a cervical biopsy specimen with human p apillomavirus (HPV) infection required to enable in situ hybridisation to be carried out with a guarantee of a reliable result. Methods - In situ hybridisation was carried out in 142 cervical uterine biopsy spe cimens classified histologically as low grade and high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Epithelial length at the level of the basal m embrane was measured by image analysis. The specimens were divided int o 10 groups based on epithelial length. Results - Of the biopsy specim ens, 61.2% were HPV positive. In specimens with an epithelial length b elow 5 mm 31.9% were HPV positive; in those between 5 and 9 mm in leng th 67.5% were HPV positive; and in those greater than 9 mm in length 8 1.8% were positive for HPV. For low grade squamous intraepithelial les ions (n 90), 68.4% of specimens with an epithelial length greater than 5 mm were HPV positive. For high grade squamous intra-epithelial lesi ons (n = 52), 86.8% of specimens with an epithelial length greater tha n 5 mm were HPV positive. Conclusions - For a diagnosis of HPV infecti on using in situ hybridisation, the minimum length of epithelium in a cervical biopsy specimen should be 5 mm. For high grade squamous intra epithelial lesions, specimens over 5 mm in length are suitable. For lo w grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, to minimise the number of fa lse negative results, the ideal minimum length is 10 mm.