Comparative evaluation of first- and second-generation digene hybrid capture assays for detection of human papillomaviruses associated with high or intermediate risk for cervical cancer

In the present study we comparatively evaluated the first- and second-gener ation Digene Hybrid Capture assays for detection of human papillomaviruses (HPV) associated with high or intermediate risk for cervical cancer in cerv ical specimens. Concordant results were obtained with 468 of 483 (96.8%) sp ecimens. All 15 specimens which gave repeatedly discordant results were pos itive by the second-generation test only, and 14 of them tested PCR positiv e. The enhanced sensitivity of the second-generation assay is mainly a resu lt of the reformulation of hybridization reagents and, to a lesser extent, a result of the addition of new HPV probes.