In the presence of symptoms and signs of the disease, doctors prescribe many laboratory tests to confirm the assumptions and make a diagnosis. In the list of appointments patients can find HPV analysis: what it is, why and when it is prescribed - not everyone can answer.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus, HPV is a whole group of viral-like infectious diseases that is widespread. Scientists know of more than 100 species of this virus and not all of them are dangerous to humans. Most are unnoticed in the body for a long time, leading to shipment. However, about 14 species of this virus are oncogenic - they provoke the development of malignant neoplasms. When diagnosing, doctors always pay attention to the type of HPV, its oncogenicity, which determines the further actions and the nature of treatment.
Human Papillomavirus - Types
Papilloma virus is usually divided into types according to the risk of provoking the development of oncology. Considering this factor, there are three main groups of HPV:
- Non-oncogenic- Never lead to the development of malignant tumors.
- Low oncogenic risk- Can provoke the development of cancer under certain conditions: 6, 11, 42, 43, 44.
- High oncogenic riskWhen infected with this type of HPV, it is difficult to prevent the development of malignant tumors. Oncogenic human papillomaviruses: 16, 18, 31, 35, 33, 45, 58, 59, 52.
How is human papillomavirus transmitted?
Knowing how the papillomavirus is transmitted reduces the risk of infection. However, in practice this is difficult to avoid. In the vast majority of cases, transmission occurs as soon as sexual activity begins: sexual intercourse is the main means of transmitting the virus. It can be moved even during a kiss, when there are micro-cracks and scratches on the surface of the lips. You can also become infected if you violate the rules of hygiene during a public gathering:
- Saunas;
- Pool:
- Baths;
- And also when using someone else’s toothbrush, towel, shaver.
Infection can also occur when a baby passes through the mother's infected pathways during childbirth. Experts do not rule out the possibility of transmission of the virus by contact: it is unstable, but can maintain some activity.Factors that provoke HPV infection include:
- Early onset of sexual activity;
- A large number of sexual partners;
- Sexually transmitted infections;
- Reduced immunity.
Human papillomavirus - symptoms
Human papillomavirus can be invisible in the body for a long time. The incubation period, according to experts, can last from 2 months to 2 years. The disease goes unnoticed: there are no clinical symptoms and the basic diagnostic methods show the norm. Every third patient, thanks to the immune system, recovers in 6-12 months from the moment of infection.
The clinic of HPV damage in the body is reduced to the appearance of skin formations. Patients notice papillomas, warts, and warts on the skin. Their localization may be different and correspond to the place where the virus enters the body: genitals, hands, lips. These growths look like papillary rashes, sometimes they look like cauliflower. The rash is painless, but with friction and injury they can cause pain and bleeding.
Why do I need an HPV test?
To tell you about the virus, go over the information about the HPV test: what kind of test is done, how it is done, and in what cases it is prescribed. To begin with, we note that if human papillomavirus is suspected, the analysis helps to confirm or disprove the assumptions. This type of research has the following objectives:
- Identification of high-risk oncogenic HPV;
- Confirmation / rejection of certain types of HPV resistance;
- Cancer risk assessment in patients with cervical epithelial layer dysplasia.
In addition to the named reasons for the test, the HPV test (which is indicated above) may be shown in the following cases:
- Primary screening for cervical cancer in women over 30 years of age.
- Evaluation of the results of surgical treatment of intraepithelial neoplasia.
- Suspicious results of cytological examination of gynecological smear.
What tests should I take for HPV?
There are several methods to detect the presence of papilloma virus in the body. However, in most cases, doctors resort to PCR. If an HPV test is needed, patients should have this test done directly. Various body fluids can be used as research material:
- Blood;
- Urine;
- Amniotic fluid (at the time of diagnosis of the disease during pregnancy).
When talking about HPV analysis, what it is and how it is performed, the possibility of studying the tissue material should be mentioned. So, during colposcopy, the doctor carefully examines the cervical mucosa. The presence of small papillomas on them is direct evidence of HPV damage to the body. A small piece of tissue is taken under a microscope for confirmation to rule out a malignant tumor.
HPV diagnostic methods
HPV diagnosis is a set of measures aimed at determining the presence of a virus and determining its type. The following techniques are used for this purpose:
- Digen test- Modern accurate method. It can be used to determine the concentration, type and oncogenicity of the virus in the body. The material for the study is the removal of the urethra or vaginal mucosa. Often used in conjunction with cytology.
- PCR diagnosis of HPV- A simple and affordable diagnostic method that is widely used. The material used is the patient's blood or urine. Suggests finding traces of viral DNA in the sample.
- Cytological examination- Examination of the smear under a microscope. The evaluation criterion is the presence of modified cells in the smear - dyskeratocytes and coilocytes.
- Detection of HPV antibodies- Helps identify viral infection in the early stages. The disadvantage is that it is impossible to determine the concentration and type of virus.
- Histological examination - examination of a sample of damaged tissue to determine the type of HPV and its oncogenicity.
Human Papillomavirus - How to Get Tested?
Before tasting, even when giving a referral, doctors tell the patient in detail how the HPV test is done in a particular case. Depending on the methods used and the test materials used, the analysis algorithm may vary. Preparing for research is of great importance. Proper implementation of all points of the preparatory measures allows you to get objective results of the analysis and eliminate the need for repeated implementation.
Preparation for HPV analysis
Before being tested for HPV, a patient must meet a number of conditions. In this case, the research method and the type of analysis material are crucial. It is represented by:
- Blood;
- Urine;
- Smear from vagina or urethra.
Depending on the type of biological fluid studied, the patient is given recommendations on how to prepare for the analysis the day before. The task of the examinee is to fully follow the rules of preparation. This will prevent false results, and in some cases false positives, when the result indicates the presence of HPV in its absence.
HPV blood test
When talking about how the HPV test is done, it should be noted that in most cases the patient's blood is used for this. The study is conducted on an empty stomach: 10-12 hours before taking the material the patient is forbidden to eat as a drink, you can use plain water without gas. Alcohol, fatty and junk food is prohibited 2-3 days before the date of analysis. Only in this case, a blood test for HPV will allow you to get accurate test results.
HPV smear analysis
This method is more often used to test the fairer sex. Before women get tested for HPV, they are ready for this test. The doctor informs the patient in detail about all the rules of preparation. The following important points can be noted in this process:
- The smear is taken before the start of the course of antibiotics or 2, 5 weeks after the end of treatment.
- It is forbidden to use the toilet of the external genitalia on the day of sampling using chemical hygiene products.
- Dosage, insertion into vaginal suppositories is prohibited.
- You should abstain from sexual intercourse for one day before receiving the material.
- It is ideal to do the analysis in the middle of the cycle, during the ovulation period it is forbidden to conduct research.
Decoding HPV analysis
Only a doctor can correctly decipher the results of an HPV test. The specialist assesses not only the quantitative value of indicators, but also the clinical picture, possible signs of infection. Getting a complete picture of what is happening helps to choose the right medication and effective treatment methods. However, it is important to consider the seriousness of timely diagnosis and treatment: the risk of developing malignant neoplasms increases with the age of the patient.
Quantitative HPV analysis
When an HPV test is performed using quantitative analysis, decoding involves determining the concentration of the virus during the study. This helps to establish the correct patient management tactics. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) measures the amount of HPV DNA in a test sample. This is essential for continuous dynamic monitoring of a specific type of human papillomavirus.
However, even those who know about HPV analysis, what it is and how it is performed, cannot independently decipher the results. This should be done in conjunction with the patient examination and other examinations. When evaluating, experts follow the following interpretations of the indicators:
- ლგ< 3- The risk of developing dysplasia is low;
- LG 3-5- Clinically significant result, there is a risk of developing cervical dysplasia;
- lg >5- High probability of dysplasia, possibly in the early stages of the disease.
Qualitative HPV analysis
High-risk oncogenic HPV analysis is performed using this technique. Helps to identify types 16 and 18 of HPV. These forms of the virus often cause genital cancer in women and squamous cell carcinoma, genital warts, and cervical dysplasia. The efficiency of HPV DNA detection reaches 98%. The conclusion offers an answer with an indication of each type of virus. There are two possible outcomes: found / could not be found.