{"id":8979,"date":"2024-12-06T15:09:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-06T13:09:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=8979"},"modified":"2026-04-30T08:25:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T05:25:54","slug":"hpv-analysis-for-human-papillomavirus-complete-guide-to-preparation-methods-and-interpretation-of-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/hpv-analysis-for-human-papillomavirus-complete-guide-to-preparation-methods-and-interpretation-of-results\/","title":{"rendered":"HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Test: A Complete Guide to Preparation, Methods, and Interpretation of Results"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"263\" data-end=\"300\"><strong>What is HPV and why is it dangerous?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"302\" data-end=\"748\">Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted viruses. According to <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"436\" data-end=\"539\">WHO<\/a>, about 80% people will be infected with at least one type of HPV during their lifetime. Most cases are asymptomatic, but certain strains can cause <strong data-start=\"690\" data-end=\"747\">anogenital warts, cervical dysplasia and cancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"750\" data-end=\"922\">The most dangerous are considered <strong data-start=\"779\" data-end=\"828\">highly oncogenic HPV types \u2014 16, 18, 31, 33, 45<\/strong>, which are found in most cases of cervical, anal, and less commonly larynx and oropharyngeal cancer.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"924\" data-end=\"963\"><strong>Who needs to get tested for HPV?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"965\" data-end=\"1302\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"965\" data-end=\"1029\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"967\" data-end=\"1029\"><strong data-start=\"967\" data-end=\"994\">Women aged 25\u201365<\/strong> \u2014 as part of routine screening<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1030\" data-end=\"1105\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1032\" data-end=\"1105\"><strong data-start=\"1032\" data-end=\"1071\">Men with an active sex life<\/strong> or anogenital warts<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1106\" data-end=\"1157\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1108\" data-end=\"1157\"><strong data-start=\"1108\" data-end=\"1123\">People with HIV<\/strong> or a reduced immune response<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1158\" data-end=\"1195\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1160\" data-end=\"1195\"><strong data-start=\"1160\" data-end=\"1193\">Couples planning a pregnancy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1196\" data-end=\"1255\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1198\" data-end=\"1255\">People who have <strong data-start=\"1214\" data-end=\"1253\">constantly changing sexual partners<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1256\" data-end=\"1302\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1258\" data-end=\"1302\">Women with abnormal Pap test results<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1304\" data-end=\"1329\"><strong>HPV analysis methods<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto contain-inline-size\">\n<table data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"2205\">\n<thead data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"1472\">\n<tr data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"1472\">\n<th data-start=\"1331\" data-end=\"1359\">Method<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"1359\" data-end=\"1426\">Description<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"1426\" data-end=\"1472\">Who is recommended?<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"1616\" data-end=\"2205\">\n<tr data-start=\"1616\" data-end=\"1762\">\n<td><strong data-start=\"1618\" data-end=\"1657\">PCR (polymerase chain reaction)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Detects viral DNA and HPV type<\/td>\n<td>Universal, most accurate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"1763\" data-end=\"1905\">\n<td><strong data-start=\"1765\" data-end=\"1780\">Digene test<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Determines the viral load of oncogenic strains<\/td>\n<td>Diagnosis of cervical dysplasia risk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"1906\" data-end=\"2061\">\n<td><strong data-start=\"1908\" data-end=\"1941\">PAP test (cytology smear)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Does not detect the virus itself, but allows you to see changes in cells<\/td>\n<td>Routine screening together with PCR<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"2062\" data-end=\"2205\">\n<td><strong data-start=\"2064\" data-end=\"2080\">Colposcopy<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Visual assessment of the cervix under magnification<\/td>\n<td>By indication (PAP test or HPV pathology)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2207\" data-end=\"2346\">In women, a swab is usually taken from the cervix, in men, from the urethra or the surface of the penis, and less often from the anal canal or larynx.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2348\" data-end=\"2386\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8981\" src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/themes\/woodmart\/images\/lazy.svg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/122944907_4881195565238853_1413068153891864306_n.jpg\" alt=\"HPV smear test in a gynecological office\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/122944907_4881195565238853_1413068153891864306_n.jpg 750w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/122944907_4881195565238853_1413068153891864306_n-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/122944907_4881195565238853_1413068153891864306_n-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/122944907_4881195565238853_1413068153891864306_n-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2348\" data-end=\"2386\"><strong>How to prepare for an HPV test<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2388\" data-end=\"2413\"><strong data-start=\"2388\" data-end=\"2413\">48 hours before the test:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2598\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2415\" data-end=\"2453\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2417\" data-end=\"2453\">abstain from sexual contact<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2454\" data-end=\"2509\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2456\" data-end=\"2509\">do not use vaginal suppositories, creams, or gels<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2510\" data-end=\"2536\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2512\" data-end=\"2536\">don&#039;t douche<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2537\" data-end=\"2598\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2539\" data-end=\"2598\">do not undergo transvaginal ultrasounds, examinations, or colposcopy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2600\" data-end=\"2623\"><strong data-start=\"2600\" data-end=\"2623\">Do not take the test:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2625\" data-end=\"2726\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2625\" data-end=\"2648\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2627\" data-end=\"2648\">during menstruation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2649\" data-end=\"2726\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2651\" data-end=\"2726\">within 2 weeks of treatment with antibiotics or topical medications<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2728\" data-end=\"2759\"><strong data-start=\"2728\" data-end=\"2759\">Recommendations for men:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2761\" data-end=\"2885\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2761\" data-end=\"2798\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2763\" data-end=\"2798\">abstain from sex for 48 hours<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2799\" data-end=\"2833\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2801\" data-end=\"2833\">maintain personal hygiene<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2834\" data-end=\"2885\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2836\" data-end=\"2885\">do not use antiseptics in the area where the swab is taken<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2887\" data-end=\"2916\"><strong>Interpretation of results<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto contain-inline-size\">\n<table data-start=\"2918\" data-end=\"3504\">\n<thead data-start=\"2918\" data-end=\"3029\">\n<tr data-start=\"2918\" data-end=\"3029\">\n<th data-start=\"2918\" data-end=\"2948\">Result<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"2989\">What does this mean<\/th>\n<th data-start=\"2989\" data-end=\"3029\">Next steps<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody data-start=\"3142\" data-end=\"3504\">\n<tr data-start=\"3142\" data-end=\"3253\">\n<td>HPV not detected<\/td>\n<td>No infection<\/td>\n<td>Repeat screening in 1\u20133 years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3254\" data-end=\"3379\">\n<td>Low-oncogenic types (e.g. HPV 6, 11)<\/td>\n<td>Possible warts, rarely cancer<\/td>\n<td>Treatment or observation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr data-start=\"3380\" data-end=\"3504\">\n<td>Highly oncogenic types (16, 18, 31, etc.)<\/td>\n<td>Increased risk of dysplasia and cancer<\/td>\n<td>Colposcopy, cytology, biopsy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3506\" data-end=\"3656\"><strong data-start=\"3506\" data-end=\"3518\">IMPORTANTLY:<\/strong> The presence of the virus does not mean cancer, but it needs to be monitored. In most cases, the immune system will eliminate the virus on its own within 1\u20132 years.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"3658\" data-end=\"3697\"><strong>Features of HPV in women and men<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"3699\" data-end=\"3980\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3699\" data-end=\"3816\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3701\" data-end=\"3816\">\u0423 <strong data-start=\"3703\" data-end=\"3712\">women<\/strong> HPV often affects the cervix, sometimes the vulva, and vagina. The main danger is <strong data-start=\"3786\" data-end=\"3815\">development of cervical cancer<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"3817\" data-end=\"3980\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"3819\" data-end=\"3980\">\u0423 <strong data-start=\"3821\" data-end=\"3834\">men<\/strong> The virus is usually asymptomatic, but can cause <strong data-start=\"3897\" data-end=\"3952\">genital warts, cancer of the penis or anus<\/strong>, especially in HIV-positive people.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"3982\" data-end=\"4029\"><strong>Do I need to take a test after vaccination?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4031\" data-end=\"4236\">Yes. Vaccination (e.g. Gardasil 9) protects against most oncogenic HPV types, but <strong data-start=\"4119\" data-end=\"4156\">does not affect an existing infection<\/strong>. Even after vaccination, periodic screening is recommended, especially in women.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"4238\" data-end=\"4274\"><strong>How often do you need to take the test?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"4276\" data-end=\"4493\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4276\" data-end=\"4361\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4278\" data-end=\"4361\"><strong data-start=\"4278\" data-end=\"4299\">Women 25\u201330 years old<\/strong> \u2014 as indicated, once every 3 years or according to the result of a Pap test<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4362\" data-end=\"4428\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4364\" data-end=\"4428\"><strong data-start=\"4364\" data-end=\"4383\">Women 30+ years old<\/strong> \u2014 once every 3\u20135 years (PAP test + HPV PCR)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4429\" data-end=\"4493\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4431\" data-end=\"4493\"><strong data-start=\"4431\" data-end=\"4443\">Men<\/strong> \u2014 according to symptoms or when diagnosing a partner<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4506\"><strong>Sources<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"4508\" data-end=\"4833\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4508\" data-end=\"4643\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4510\" data-end=\"4643\"><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4510\" data-end=\"4641\">WHO \u2013 Human Papillomavirus (HPV)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4644\" data-end=\"4739\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4646\" data-end=\"4739\"><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/hpv-infection\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4646\" data-end=\"4737\">Mayo Clinic \u2013 HPV infection<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"4740\" data-end=\"4833\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"4742\" data-end=\"4833\"><a class=\"cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"4742\" data-end=\"4833\">FDA \u2013 HPV testing<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Surrender <a href=\"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/price\/?3325_search_1=%D0%B2%D0%BF%D0%BB&amp;3325_device=laptop&amp;3325_orderby=relevance&amp;3325_paged=1&amp;3325_filtered=true\">HPV testing<\/a> \u2014 is a quick and painless procedure that allows you to detect a potentially dangerous infection at an early stage. For women, it is part of the prevention of cervical cancer, and for men \u2014 a way to protect themselves and their partners. In a world where HPV is one of the most common viral infections, timely diagnosis is the best form of health care.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is HPV and why is it dangerous? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common<\/p>","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":8980,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/97"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}