Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing prevents more invasive cervical cancer compared to cytology screening alone, according to a study published in The Lancet Oncology. 

The HPV test detects persistent high-grade lesions, which can lead to cervical cancer, earlier. As such, researchers suggest that HPV testing should become the primary screening tool for women aged 35 years or older at longer screening intervals, with cytology reserved for triage of women who test positive for HPV.

The New Technologies for Cervical Cancer (NTCC) screening study, led by Guglielmo Ronco and colleagues from the Centre for Cancer Prevention in Italy, examines the benefits and risks of introducing HPV testing for cervical cancer screening and assesses the most appropriate age for initiating HPV testing.

Two rounds of screening were done for two separate recruitment phases in which women aged 25–60 years were randomly assigned to conventional cytology only or to HPV testing plus cytology and HPV testing alone.

For more information about HPV testing and HPV genotyping, contact one of our technical service specialists at 800.932.2943.