Revista de genómica clínica y médica

Human Papillomavirus: Flow Cytometry Detection and PCR Analysis, A Comparison Study

Abstract

Vasiliki E Kalodimou, Marina Kontogiorgi, Abraham Ghiatas and Apostolos Papalois

Recent reports have shown that during persistent HPV infections of the cervical epithelium the viral genome, of high risk HPV types, often integrate into the host chromosome, which results in an over expression of the viral proteins E6 and E7 of human papillomavirus. These oncoproteins induce immortalization and malignant transformation of cells conferring a certain growth advantage to the infected cells.

A total of 100 women undergoing routine cervical cytology samples joined this cohort study. A Thin Prep Pap Test sample was taken following consent for study participation and was tested for HPV. Cytological screening of the samples was done by trained cytologists. After sample collection, 1 ml aliquot was removed and prepared for flow cytometric analysis and the rest of the sample was sent for PCR analysis. In the total of 100 cases, 4 specimens were characterized as unsatisfactory.

For the rest 96 specimens, 82 specimens were found to be positive, for the HPV virus and 14 negative. In the total of 100 cases the analysis of flow cytometry and PCR detection gives the same results in most cases. As a conclusion, our results showed that the use of flow cytometry in the detection of HPV virus is a feasible method and requires only 1ml of sample specimen to give accurate results for the diagnosis.