This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Caussy, D Articles by Rawls, W Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Caussy, D Articles by Rawls, W

Evaluation of methods for detecting human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleotide sequences in clinical specimens.

Molecular Virology and Immunology Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

ABSTRACT

Specimens from 26 condylomatous lesions, 24 invasive cancer cells, and 33 cervices, without evidence of the diseases, were tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18 by Southern blot hybridization, in situ filter hybridization, or in situ tissue hybridization methods. A total of 89% (23 of 26) of the condylomatous lesions contained HPV DNAs, as determined by one or more of the methods. The positive rates for the detection of HPV DNA in condylomas by the different methods were 82% for Southern blot hybridization, 62% for in situ filter hybridization, and 72% for in situ tissue hybridization. Among the specimens from patients with cancer, HPV DNA was found in 83% (19 of 23) by one or more of the methods. Positive rates of 89 and 70%, respectively, were obtained for cancer lesions tested by the filter in situ and Southern blot hybridization methods; however, only 30% of those lesions were positive by the in situ tissue hybridization method. Thirteen percent of the control cervices were positive for HPV DNA by one or more of the assays. With respect to all disease categories, the methods had comparable sensitivities and specificities, except for the in situ tissue hybridization method, which revealed a specificity of 72% for condylomatous lesions and 30% for invasive cancer cells.