Guidelines Recommend HPV Testing for Abnormal Pap

The American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) has developed new patient guidelines that recommend testing for human papillovirus (HPV) for women who receive abnormal results known as ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance).

According to the guidelines, an ASCUS Pap test followed by HPV testing should identify most patients with a higher risk of cervical cancer. The guidelines also recommend that women with ASCUS Pap results ask healthcare providers for their HPV test to be "reflexed” automatically from the same specimen when liquid-based cytology is used instead of the conventional Pap smear. This strategy can reduce overall costs and minimize the need for another office visit.

The only FDA-approved test for HPV is the Hybrid Capture 2HPV DNA test of Digene Corp. (Gaithersburg, MD, USA). Studies have shown that HPV is the primary causal factor in the development of cervical cancer. The ThinPrep Pap test of Cytyc Corp. (Boxborough, MA, USA) is the only liquid cytology medium that is FDA-approved for reflex testing of Digene's test.

"We believe that HPV testing, using our Hybrid Capture 2 HPV Test can help provide women with ASCUS Pap results better, faster answers that can eliminate unnecessary anxiety as well as additional procedures,” said Evan Jones, chairman and CEO of Digene.




Related Links:
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