DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN CERVICAL SCRAPINGS BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION AND THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN RELATION TO CYTOLOGY

A gynaecological out-patient population consisting of zoo patients age d 19-43 years (mean age 34.2 years) was screened for the presence of h uman papillomavirus (HPV) by the polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization on cervical scrapings. A novel method was applied for t he detection of HPV in cervical cells by embedding them in a paraffin block before in situ hybridization was performed. This technique resul ted in well preserved cytological morphology, easy performance and eco nomy of probes. In eight of the 200 patients (4%), human papillomaviru s DNA was revealed by the polymerase chain reaction. Subtyping reveale d the presence of HPV serotype 16 DNA in three of these patients. In o ne patient HPV serotype 18 DNA was also present. The in situ hybridiza tion assay was able to detect all those cases with a specific HPV sero type infection.