Journal of Clinical Virology
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 14-18, January 2007

Human Papillomavirus testing for the management of low-grade cervical abnormalities in the UK—Influence of age and testing strategy

  • K.S. Cuschieri

      Affiliations

    • Specialist Virology Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 131242 6039; fax: +44 242 6008.
  • ,
  • C. Graham

      Affiliations

    • The Epidemiology and Statistics Core, Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, The University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
  • ,
  • C. Moore

      Affiliations

    • Specialist Virology Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, United Kingdom
  • ,
  • H.A. Cubie

      Affiliations

    • Specialist Virology Centre, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, United Kingdom

Received 31 March 2006; received in revised form 13 October 2006; accepted 18 October 2006. published online 28 November 2006.

Abstract 

Background

The results of the UK pilot studies were encouraging with respect to the introduction of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing as a means to improve the management of low-grade cytological abnormalities. However, several important unresolved issues related to HPV triage remain, two of which are: what type of HPV test should be used and what age group should be targeted.

Objectives

To perform an evaluation of two commercial HPV detection tests and to correlate disease persistence and clearance with age and HPV status by the two tests.

Study design

We performed an evaluation of two commercial HPV tests in a cross-sectional analysis of 322 cervical cytology specimens with low-grade abnormalities. A subset of these specimens were then examined longitudinally, in order to correlate disease persistence and clearance with age and HPV status by the two detection tests.

Results

The two tests performed similarly with respect to the longitudinal identification/prediction of high-grade cervical disease. Age did not appear to be a factor in determining which cases went on to manifest high-grade disease within 3 years of a low-grade result (p=0.678).

Conclusions

This study weakens the case for age-adjusted HPV triage of low-grade cervical abnormalities.

Abbreviations: HR-HPV, high-risk Human Papillomavirus, CIN, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, ASCUS, atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, LBC, liquid based cytology

Keywords: HPV testing, Low-grade cervical cytology, Age

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

PII: S1386-6532(06)00399-4

doi:10.1016/j.jcv.2006.10.007

Journal of Clinical Virology
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 14-18, January 2007