The HPV Test
What Is It? How Is It Done?

Why Is It Important to Know the HPV Virus Type?

Some types of HPV are high-risk and are associated particularly with cervical cancer. In addition, they are also linked to anal cancer and penile cancer. If a high-risk type is detected in the HPV test result, the patient needs to be followed up more closely.

Low-risk HPV types, on the other hand, mostly cause warts and do not show a strong association with cancer. Knowing this distinction helps both the patient and the physician to determine the right follow-up strategy.

How Is the HPV Test Done?

In women, the HPV test is done with a sample taken from the cervix during a gynaecological examination. The procedure is painless and takes a few minutes. In men, a swab sample can be taken from the penile skin, the opening of the urethra or the wart tissue.

The sample taken is examined in the laboratory using molecular methods, and the virus's DNA is investigated.

Who Should Have the HPV Test?

• Women over the age of 30, for screening purposes
• People in whom an abnormality is detected in the smear test
• Patients with recurrent genital warts
• People with a history of a high-risk partner

What Happens If the HPV Test Is Positive?

A positive HPV test does not mean that you have cancer. It only shows that the virus has been detected. If a high-risk type has been detected, colposcopy and detailed evaluation may be needed. In low-risk types, clinical follow-up is usually sufficient.

Is the HPV Test Reliable?

The HPV DNA test is today one of the methods with the highest sensitivity in cervical cancer screening. With a correctly taken sample and reliable laboratory analyses, the results are quite reliable.

The HPV test provides early diagnosis in cancer screening. Detecting the virus at an early stage makes it possible to bring the disease under control before it progresses.