Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network

Many primary care physicians (PCPs) are not adhering to clinical practice guidelines for cervical cancer screenings, according to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 A survey of more than 1,200 indicates that many PCPs are not following guidelines on recommended screening intervals for cervical cancer with regards to the traditional pap testing and a DNA test for the human papillomavirus (HPV).

The FDA has approved HPV DNA testing for use in conjunction with Pap testing, a process called co-testing, for women age 30 and older. At the time the survey was conducted, guidelines from the American Cancer Society and those from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advised extending the interval between screenings to 3 years for low-risk women over the age of 30 after three consecutive normal Pap tests or a single normal co-test (a normal Pap test plus a negative HPV DNA test). 

While the Pap test is the most commonly used cervical cancer screening method, several studies have show that the DNA test for HPV is more sensitive than then Pap test in detecting high-grade precancerous lesions.

For more information about HPV testing and HPV genotyping, contact a technical service specialist at 800-932-2943.