Raman Spectroscopy of Liquid-Based Cervical Smear Samples as a Triage to Stratify Women Who Are HPV-Positive on Screening

The role of persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the development of cervical precancer and cancer is now well accepted, and HPV testing has recently been introduced for primary cervical screening. However, the low specificity of HPV DNA testing can result in large numbers of women with an HPV-positive result, and additional triage approaches are needed to avoid over-referral to colposcopy and overtreatment. The aim of this study was to assess Raman spectroscopy as a potential triage test to discriminate between transient and persistent HPV infection. HPV DNA status and mRNA status were confirmed in ThinPrep® cervical samples (n = 60) using the Cobas 4800 and APTIMA HPV test, respectively. Raman spectra were recorded from single-cell nuclei and subjected to partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA). In addition, the PLSDA classification model was validated using a blinded independent test set (n = 14). Sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 92% were achieved for the classification of transient and persistent HPV infection, and this increased to 90% sensitivity and 100% specificity when mean sample spectra were used instead of individual cellular spectra. This study showed that Raman spectroscopy has potential as a triage test for HPV-positive women to identify persistent HPV infection.

Prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) and type distribution of genotypes (6, 11, 16 and 18) among Egyptian women

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract and the causative agent of cervical cancer and genital warts. Objectives: to study prevalence of HPV infection and type distribution of genotypes (6, 11, 16 and 18) among Egyptian females. Methodology: 65 Egyptian women were subjected to conventional Pap cytology, HPV DNA testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyping by multiplex PCR for genotypes (6, 11, 16 and 18) during the period from May 2018 until October 2018. Results: The prevalence of HPV among participants was (23.1%). only 20% of HPV positive cases, were infected by single HPV genotype and 80% were co-infected by more than one genotype. Conclusion: These data expand the knowledge concerning HPV prevalence and type distribution in Egypt which may help to create a national HPV prevention program.