Can Human Papillomavirus Testing Replace the Pap Smear?

HPV testing had greater sensitivity for detecting grade 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer, and HPV testing is widely available now. Should HPV testing replace conventional Pap cytologic testing for cervical cancer screening?

In a partially industry-funded Canadian study, 10,154 women (age range, 30–69) underwent both Pap and HPV testing, in random order, during single visits for routine examinations. In women with abnormal findings on either test, colposcopy and biopsy were performed for tissue verification of the screening results.

The sensitivity of HPV testing for grade 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was 94.6%, compared with a sensitivity of 55.4% for Pap smears. Specificity was slightly lower with HPV testing (94.1%) than with …

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Can Human Papillomavirus Testing Replace the Pap Smear?

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Reviewing Author