DETECTION OF HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS IN CERVICAL SWAB SAMPLES BY VIRAPAPAND IN CERVICAL BIOPSY SPECIMENS BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in cervical swab specimens by Vir aPap and in cervical biopsies by the ViraType in situ hybridization as say was correlated with concurrent cytologic and histologic findings i n 149 patients. Seven percent of patients with normal samples were pos itive for HPV DNA, compared with 29% and 69% of patients with low- and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs), respectively. The performance of both assays increased the rate of HPV detection in low -grade lesions but not in high-grade cases. ViraPap was more sensitive than the ViraType in situ hybridization assay in high-grade lesions. The present investigation suggests that HPV DNA detection may be usefu l in separating confirmed lesions from histologically questionable bio psies.