APPLICATION OF THE NASBA NUCLEIC-ACID AMPLIFICATION METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-16 E6-E7 TRANSCRIPTS

Using a human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) E6-E7-specific primer se t in a nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) reaction, det ection of HPV-16 transcripts was accomplished in a single enzymatic re action at 41 degrees C. The NASBA reaction product was visualized eith er by Northern blot analysis with an HPV-16 E6-E7-specific P-32-labell ed oligonucleotide probe or by a non-radioactive enzyme-linked gel ass ay (ELGA). In combination with a rapid nucleic acid extraction procedu re this method appears to be very suitable for the sensitive and speci fic detection of HPV-16 transcripts on small amounts of HPV-16-express ing cells of various sources, including cervical smears.