Human papillomavirus testing

If possible, it is strongly recommended that many people who have never been exposed to HPV have appropriate assays to test for the disease. This analysis is mandatory if pathological symptoms begin to appear. This viral disease in both men and women may be the result of transmission from another person by:

• Unprotected sex (can also be spread by kissing - if the mouth and lips are injured).
• During childbirth - from mother to baby.
• The virus can also enter the body of unsuspecting people in domestic areas in crowded places: public toilets, swimming pools, bathhouses. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to use other people's hygiene products.

The disease is not spread genetically through DNA. Therefore, the main risks of infection are disregard of the basic rules of hygiene, unprotected sexual contact, indiscreet intercourse, and a weakened immune system. The risk of infection increases when a person has bad habits.

important!In nature, the HPV pathogen cannot survive for very long (less than 1 day) without a carrier, but usually this is enough to infect a person.

If an HPV blood test is desired, you will first need to contact the clinic as one of the highly specialized doctors can issue an appropriate referral.

There are more than 100 types of HPV, and more than half of them pose no danger to humans, but some varieties are thought to be carcinogenic, so, over time, they can cause cancer.

Papillomavirus is incredibly often spread from person to person through sexual activity. Furthermore, the potential for transmission of this particular virus is very high (compared to other STDs) in the context of unprotected exposure. In recent years, as doctors have pointed out, the number of cases has grown exponentially every year.

The disease is particularly dangerous for the weak in humans, as it often leads to the development of cervical cancer, as well as other cancer pathologies in women. The older a woman is, the higher her risk of developing cancer. In men, papillomaviruses that develop in the genitourinary system often cause erection problems, irreversible infertility, and cancer of the genitourinary system. Therefore, preventive testing is the right and reasonable decision.

What analysis is performed on human papillomavirus?

Highly specialized experts can determine what type of analysis you need to go through and what needs to be done for it. You can get professional advice on this from many doctors: dermatologists, urologists, gynecologists.

Currently, there are several popular and effective ways to not only identify the presence of a viral disease in the human body, but also to immediately attribute it to a certain type - safe or dangerous.

important!You can't independently determine which test to have to find your HPV - only a doctor can. He will indicate the name of the analysis.

We focus on the following application methods:

1. Colposcopy. A colposcopy is used to examine the cervix in detail. During surgery, doctors can get a good view of the mucous membranes of the organ, get high-quality images of all areas of interest, and even spot microscopic papillomas and warts (if any).
2. cytology. Cytology is a common method used to detect various infectious pathological diseases by examining smears under a microscope. As a result of the research, you can get different categories of results: the first and second will show that a person has no problem with the virus; the third is the reason for a clarifying study (usually specifying histology); the fourthand the fifth category will indicate the presence of pathological cells. Cytology is used to diagnose the infectious disease HPV if cells that are modified in a specific way are found in a human smear.
3. Histological, biopathological studies. To examine a sample using this technique, a specialist removes a small amount of tissue from a person (it's hard to say how they do it, as every situation is different). The study was carried out under a microscope - also searching for modified cells affected by viral infection.
4. Look for HPV antibodies. One of the most modern and useful types of research. That's because the method involves searching human blood for antibodies to the infectious disease (partly a diagnosis). Antibodies in the body appear before the virus begins to act violently. This method cannot identify HPV pathological types with high accuracy, and also cannot indicate concentrations. Human blood, not tissue, is examined by extracorporeal methods.
5. Dual genetic testing. Modern and innovative methods for detecting papillomavirus. Using this technology, you can find out all the characteristics of the disease. To obtain material for research, samples were collected from the mucous membranes of the urethra (males) and vagina (females). Often this type of test is used in conjunction with cytology in order to obtain the most accurate data about the existing pathology.
6. polymerase chain reaction. This approach is most needed in situations where it is necessary to investigate papillomavirus pathology suspected of oncology. Under this technique, a person donates blood, urine, and a mucosal smear (as directed by a doctor). The method is based on the detection of HPV DNA, so the accuracy of the results obtained on the presence or absence of the disease in the human body is very high. It is difficult to study the material using this method, so if the work is carried out by inexperienced experts, or if the technique is violated, there is a high chance of obtaining erroneous results.

important!Regardless of the test and method chosen, the study will be simple and painless for anyone of any age.

If the test involves the removal of material from the urethra or vagina, it is necessary to prepare in a certain way: you should stop taking any antiviral or antibacterial drugs a few days before this. For a few hours before taking biomaterials, you need to give up any hygiene procedures and do not go to the toilet.

If blood is used to test for the virus, it should be done on an empty stomach. If you are very thirsty, then you can drink some pure water without sugar and gas. In order not to get false results, you must abstain from alcoholic beverages and fatty foods a few days before the study.

important!It is also recommended to temporarily avoid sexual intercourse two to three days before sampling any type of biological material.

Any test that detects papillomavirus poses no difficulties for patients and doctors: they can be passed quickly and easily, and the results obtained are likely to indicate the presence or absence of pathology. At the same time, it is very important to diagnose the presence of the virus as early as possible, because the sooner treatment is started, the lower the risk of neoplastic forms of this pathology.

You can perform this type of analysis at any private laboratory, or obtain an appropriate referral from the state clinic where it is registered. Interpretation of the obtained results should only be carried out by qualified experts. You should not take the results obtained after analysis and study them using the internet - there will be no benefit - you will not be able to diagnose yourself properly.