We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




HPV Test with Cytology Adds Little Diagnostic Value

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 03 Jan 2018
Print article
Image: A photomicrograph of a cervical cancer biopsy. Many squamous cells show dark nuclei surrounded by a clear halo. These are koilocytes and indicative of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (Photo courtesy of Newcastle University).
Image: A photomicrograph of a cervical cancer biopsy. Many squamous cells show dark nuclei surrounded by a clear halo. These are koilocytes and indicative of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection (Photo courtesy of Newcastle University).
The main goal of cervical screening programs is to detect and treat precancer before cancer develops. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is more sensitive than cytology for detecting precancer.

Current guidance largely supports inclusion of HPV testing, which is the more sensitive of the two tests for screening for precancers. Guidance documents have varied in their advice on cervical cancer screening, and not all recommend co-testing.

A team of scientists working with US National Cancer Institute (Rockville, MD, USA) quantified the detection of cervical precancer and cancer by co-testing compared with HPV testing alone at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC, Oakland, CA, USA), where 1,208,710 women age 30 years and older have undergone triennial cervical co-testing since 2003.They analyzed screening histories of 623 preceding cervical cancers and 5,369 precancers.

The team reported HPV testing identified more women subsequently diagnosed with cancer and precancer than cytology. HPV testing was statistically significantly more likely to be positive for cancer at any time point, except within 12 months. HPV-negative/cytology-positive results preceded only small fractions of cases of precancer (3.5%) and cancer (5.9%). These cancers were more likely to be regional or distant stage with squamous histopathology than other cases.

Given the rarity of cancers among screened women, the contribution of cytology to screening translated to earlier detection of at most five cases per million women per year. Two-thirds (67.9%) of women found to have cancer during 10 years of follow-up at KPNC were detected by the first co-test performed. The added sensitivity of co-testing versus HPV alone for detection of treatable cancer affected extremely few women.

Mark Schiffman, MD, MPH, senior investigator at the National Cancer Institute and the study’s lead author, said, “The molecular test detects the virus before the clone of cells is large enough to be readily detectable as abnormal cytology on an exfoliated cell sampling. In other words, first the HPV test turns positive, and then the cytology test is positive if the infected cells reach a size of lesion large enough to be detected when the cervix is scraped for the Pap test.” The study was published on November 14, 2017, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Related Links:
US National Cancer Institute
Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
One Step HbA1c Measuring System
GREENCARE A1c
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
Gold Member
Reagent Reservoirs
Reagent Reservoirs

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The study showed the blood-based cancer screening test detects 83% of people with colorectal cancer with specificity of 90% (Photo courtesy of Guardant Health)

Blood Test Shows 83% Accuracy for Detecting Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer deaths among adults in the U.S., with forecasts suggesting 53,010 people might die from it in 2024. While fewer older adults are dying from this... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The Gazelle Hb Variant Test (Photo courtesy of Hemex Health)

First Affordable and Rapid Test for Beta Thalassemia Demonstrates 99% Diagnostic Accuracy

Hemoglobin disorders rank as some of the most prevalent monogenic diseases globally. Among various hemoglobin disorders, beta thalassemia, a hereditary blood disorder, affects about 1.5% of the world's... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The new platform is designed to perform blood-based diagnoses of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours

Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems.... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: These new assays are being developed for use on the recently introduced DxI 9000 Immunoassay Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Beckman Coulter)

Beckman Coulter and Fujirebio Expand Partnership on Neurodegenerative Disease Diagnostics

Beckman Coulter Diagnostics (Brea, CA, USA) and Fujirebio Diagnostics (Tokyo, Japan) have expanded their partnership focused on the development, manufacturing and clinical adoption of neurodegenerative... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.