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 appointment list, patients can find an 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 widespread viral -like infectious diseases. Scientists know of more than 100 types of these viruses, and not all of them are harmful to humans. Most are invisible in the body for a long time, causing transport. However, about 14 of these virus types are oncogenic - they trigger the development of malignant neoplasms. When diagnosing, doctors always pay attention to the type of HPV, its oncogenicity, which determines the further action and nature of treatment.
Human papillomavirus - type
Papilloma viruses are usually divided into types depending on the risk of provoking the development of oncology. Taking these factors into account, there are three main groups of HPV:
- Not oncogenic- never causes the development of malignant tumors.
- Low oncogenic risk- can, in certain circumstances, trigger the development of cancer: 6, 11, 42, 43, 44.
- High oncogenic risk- when infected with this type of HPV, it is difficult to prevent the development of malignant tumors. Oncogenic human papillomavirus: 16, 18, 31, 35, 33, 45, 58, 59, 52.
How is the human papillomavirus transmitted?
Knowing how papillomavirus is transmitted can reduce the risk of infection. In practice, however, this is difficult to avoid. In most cases, transmission occurs with the onset of sexual activity: sexual intercourse is the primary means of viral transmission. The transfer can also be done during a kiss, when there are micro cracks and scratches on the surface of the lips. You can also be infected if you break the rules of hygiene when visiting public places:
- sauna;
- pool:
- bath;
- and also when using other people’s toothbrushes, towels, razors.
Infection can also occur when a baby passes through a pathway that the mother infected during childbirth. Experts do not exclude the possibility of transmission of the virus through contact: it is unstable, but it can maintain some activity.Among the factors that trigger HPV infection:
- early onset of sexual activity;
- a large number of sexual partners;
- sexually transmitted infections;
- diminished immunity.
Human papillomavirus - symptoms
Human papillomavirus can exist in the body for a long time. The incubation period, according to experts, can last from 2 months to 2 years. The disease is invisible: there are no clinical symptoms, and the main diagnostic methods show the norm. One in three patients, thanks to their immune system, recovers within 6-12 months from the moment of infection.
The clinic of HPV damage on the body is reduced to the appearance of skin formation. Patients see papillomas, warts and condylomas on their skin. Their localization can be different and correspond to the place of penetration of the virus into the body: genitals, the surface of the hands, lips. These formations look like papillary growths, sometimes they externally resemble cauliflower. Its growth is not painful, but with friction and injury, it can cause pain and bleeding.
Why do I need an HPV test?
Having told about the virus, let’s turn to the information about HPV analysis: the type of research it is, how it is conducted and in what cases it is prescribed. For starters, we note that if human papillomavirus is suspected, analysis helps confirm or refute the assumptions. This type of research has the following goals:
- identification of high oncogenic risk HPV;
- confirmation / denial of persistence of certain types of HPV;
- cancer risk assessment in patients with dysplasia of the cervical epithelial lining.
In addition to the reasons named for screening, HPV analysis (what it is - shown above) can be indicated in the following cases:
- Primary screening for cervical cancer in women over 30 years of age.
- Evaluation of the results of surgical treatment performed intraepithelial neoplasia.
- Doubtful results of gynecological smear cytological examination.
What tests should I take for HPV?
There are several methods to determine the presence of papilloma virus in the body. However, in most cases, doctors use PCR. If it is necessary to pass an analysis for HPV, the patient undergoes this examination directly. Various biological body fluids can be used as materials for examination:
- blood;
- urine;
- amniotic fluid (when diagnosing disease during pregnancy).
Speaking of HPV analysis, what it is and how it is carried out, it is worth noting the possibility of studying tissue material. Therefore, during colposcopy, the doctor carefully examines the mucous membrane of the cervix. The presence of small papillomas in them is direct evidence of HPV damage to the body. For confirmation, a small piece of tissue is taken for examination under a microscope to rule out malignancy.
HPV diagnostic methods
HPV diagnostics is a set of steps aimed at determining the presence of the virus and determining its type. For this purpose, the following techniques are used:
- Digene exam- modern precision methods. With its help, it is possible to establish the concentration of the virus in the body, its type and oncogenicity. The material for research is scraping from the mucous membranes of the urethra or vagina. It is often used in combination with cytology.
- PCR diagnosis of HPV- a wide range of simple and affordable diagnostic methods. The material used is the patient's blood or urine. Assume detection of viral DNA traces in the sample.
- Cytological examination- smear examination under a microscope. The evaluation criterion was the presence of modified cells in the smear - dyskeratocytes and coilocytes.
- Detection of antibodies to HPV- helps identify viral infections at an early stage. The disadvantage is that it is not possible to determine the concentration and type of virus.
- Histological examination - examination of a sample of affected tissue to determine the type of HPV and its oncogenicity.
Human papillomavirus - how to get tested?
Before the examination, even during the withdrawal of the referral, the doctor tells the patient in detail how the HPV test is taken in a particular case. Depending on the methods and examination materials used, the analysis algorithm may differ. Preparation for research is very important. Proper implementation of all preparatory step points allows you to obtain objective results of the analysis and eliminates the need for repetitive implementation.
Be prepared for HPV analysis
Prior to HPV analysis, patients must meet a number of conditions. In this case, the survey method and the type of material for analysis are important. It is represented by:
- blood;
- urine;
- swabs from the vagina or urethra.
Depending on the type of biological fluid being studied, patients are given suggestions on how to prepare for analysis the day before. The job of the examiner is to fully comply with the rules of preparation. This will avoid getting false results, and in some cases false positives, when the results indicate the presence of HPV during its absence.
HPV blood test
Talking about how the HPV test is taken, it should be noted that in most cases the patient’s blood is used for it. The study was conducted on an empty stomach: 10-12 hours before the expected time to take the substance, the patient is not allowed to eat, as a drink, you can use plain water without gas. 2-3 days before the day of analysis, it is forbidden to consume alcoholic, fatty beverages and snacks. Only in this case, the diagnosis of HPV through blood will allow you to get accurate test results.
HPV smear analysis
This method is more often used to check for fair sex. Before women are tested for HPV, they are prepared for this screening. The doctor introduces the patient in detail to all the rules of preparation. In this process, the following important points can be highlighted:
- Smears are taken before starting a course of antibiotics or 2. 5 weeks after the end of treatment.
- On the day of sampling, it is prohibited to run an external genital toilet using chemical hygiene products.
- Do not douche, enter the vaginal suppositories.
- One day before taking the substance, you must refrain from sexual intercourse.
- It is appropriate to take the analysis in the middle of the cycle; prohibited from conducting studies during the ovulation period.
Decoding HPV analysis
Only a doctor can interpret the results of an HPV test correctly. Specialists assess not only the quantitative value of indicators, but also the clinical picture, the possible signs of infection. Getting a complete picture of what is going on helps choose the right medication and choose an effective treatment method. At the same time, it is important to take into account the seriousness of the diagnosis and timely treatment: with the age of the patient, the risk of developing malignant neoplasms increases.
Quantitative HPV analysis
When HPV testing is performed using quantitative analysis, decoding involves determining the concentration of the virus at the time of the study. This helps to determine the right tactics for patient management. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) measures the amount of HPV DNA in a test sample. This is necessary for continuous dynamic monitoring of certain types of human papillomavirus.
However, even those who know about HPV analysis, what it is and how it is performed, are unable to decipher the results independently. This must be done in conjunction with patient examinations and other examinations. When evaluating, experts adhere to the following interpretation of indicators:
- lg< 3- the risk of developing dysplasia is low;
- lg 3-5- clinically significant results, there is a risk of developing cervical dysplasia;
- lg >5- high probability of dysplasia, possibly an early stage of the disease.
Qualitative HPV analysis
High oncogenic risk HPV analysis was performed using this technique. Helps identify the 16th and 18th HPV types. This form of the virus often causes genital cancer in women and squamous cell carcinoma, genital warts, and cervical dysplasia. HPV DNA detection efficiency reached 98%. The conclusion suggests an answer with indications of each type of virus. There are two possible outcomes: found / not found.