Cancer Virus Screen Will Save Thousands from Extra Smear Tests

Human papillomavirus testing helps health care providers more efficiently triage women with Pap smear results showing borderline or mild cellular abnormalities, a new pilot study shows. UK researchers used HPV testing for liquid-based cytology samples in a study involving more than 10,000 women ages 25-64 at six sites in England.

HPV testing of samples with low-grade abnormalities was used to select women for colposcopy referral. One-third of the women with borderline cytology results did not carry cancer-causing HPV strains targeted by HPV testing, these women were free to go home and return to a routine screening schedule. The other two-thirds were referred to colposcopy, rather than for repeat Pap smear tests to check the initial result.

Currently, women outside the pilot trial sites who have mild or borderline abnormal Pap results are asked to repeat the procedure. Of 3.2 million Pap smears conducted each year in England, 184,000 find borderline or mild abnormalities. The National Health Service’s Cervical Screening Program is expanding the dual HPV/Pap testing approach throughout England.

“Our study shows that adding HPV testing significantly reduces the number of women sent for more invasive tests, when in fact they do not have any serious cervical changes,” said Dr. Sue Moss, a study co-author with the Institute for Cancer Research in Sutton, Surrey.

“The use of HPV testing that this paper reports is currently being incorporated into the screening program nationwide and will be fully rolled out within the next year,” said professor Julietta Patnick, study co-author and director of NHS screening programs. “By incorporating HPV testing into our current screening program in this way, we will be able to significantly reduce the number of repeat cytology tests required and to target our colposcopy services more effectively.”

The full study, “HPV Testing as a Triage for Borderline or Mild Dyskaryosis on Cervical Cytology: Results from the Sentinel Sites Study,” was published in British Journal of Cancer (2011;105:983-988).

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!