HPV Test Results - Does It Signify Cervical Cancer

1. HPV Test Results – Does It Signify Cervical cancer? Cervista Human Papillomavirus Infection Test (HPV Test) With advancement in technology, medical science has also taken a step further. A team of doctors and scientists are now able to diagnose and treat unknown complex diseases. One such disease is cervical cancer, whose incidence has increased several times in the past few years. Generally, cervical cancer occurs due to infection of Human papillomavirus (HPV) in the cervix region. The Cervista HPV test is a specialized test to identify the presence of HPV DNA in cervical samples of female patients. It helps in identifying all types of cancers causing HPV in the cervix region. Samples taken during Pap screening or colposcopy are analyzed through a HPV test. This test was designed by the Hologic Company and also approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March, 2009. It was one of the first DNA-based tests which are approved by the FDA for detection of HPV in women. How is an HPV test performed? To perform a Cervista HPV test, a sample is taken from the female cervix. It is usually performed along with a Pap test or colposcopy. This test does not require any special preparation, but you should ideally schedule Cervista HPV test and other screening tests about two weeks after your last menstrual periods. These screening tests should be avoided during the menstrual period. Significance of HPV Test An HPV test signifies presence of an HPV in your cervix region. But, a positive test may not always indicate that it may lead to cervical cancer. An HPV test simply estimates a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer or to estimate the severity or risk which may not be clear from findings of your cervix through a physical examination and Pap screening. Only the Cervista HPV test is not sufficient to analyze the presence of HPV DNA. Rather it is always analyzed along with a Pap test, medical history review and physical examination of the patient. It provides detailed information for better monitoring and management for each case. Presently, there are two common types of HPV tests available, which include the Cervista HPV 16/18 and Cervista HPV HR. Cervista HPV 16/18 is used to diagnose the presence of HPV 16 and 18 DNA in the cervix of female patients and Cervista HPV HR helps in the diagnosis of all 14

2. high-risk associated cancer causing HPVs. All these classes of HPVs are the most significant types of HPVs which can lead to the development of cervical cancer. Your doctor may perform any one of these diagnostic tests depending upon the information collected through prior analyzes. Do You Require an HPV Test? The Cervista HPV test is not performed as a routine screening test for all females. It is performed along with other screening tests to analyze the presence of infectious viruses. It is never recommended for women under 30 years of age or those who have a normal cytology (Pap) result. Cervista HPV test is mainly designed for women who are 30 or older or those who have an unclear or borderline Pap screening results, such as ASC-US (atypical squamous cells of unknown significance) or low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). It provides detailed information for cases which indicate occurrence of pre-cancerous changes in their cervices.