Kw. Hart et al., Novel method for detection, typing, and quantification of human papillomaviruses in clinical samples, J CLIN MICR, 39(9), 2001, pp. 3204-3212
We report the development of a novel detection and typing methodology for h
uman papillomaviruses (HPV) based on real-time PCR with the self-probing fl
uorescent primers known as Scorpions. This technique is quick, el simple, s
pecific, sensitive, and capable of estimating viral load per cell. We repor
t the results of over 100 typing reactions performed on cell lines, biopsie
s, and cervical cytobrush samples which, when compared to the current refer
ence HPV detection and typing technique, present a kappa value of 0.89. We
further report preliminary data suggesting a relationship between viral loa
d per cell and grade of cervical disease.