Comments on: HPV DNA Test for Cervical Cancer

By: Dena

Dena — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:23:59 +0000

I have had mild dysplasia for a couple of years now and in July I had a leep done. I went back on Friday and the Dr. did a DNA instead of a Pap. He said that this is new to him but if I come back with a good report then I can go back to regular visits instead of every 6 months with a pap. I’m hoping he is correct in that statement…

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:54:37 +0000

Hi Mary, That’s a very important question. From what I understand (keep in mind, I’m not an STD expert), taking one test won’t affect the results of the other. According to the Canadian study:

“Performance was unaffected by the sequence of the tests. The sensitivity of both tests used together was 100%, and the specificity was 92.5%”

So having both tests will guarantee that every person with cancer will be detected while there will be some false positives that can be clarified with further exams.

Hope this helps!

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 07:50:16 +0000

Barry, I often forget I’m actually a trained epidemiologist!

By: Mary

Mary — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:53:21 +0000

Many of my friends at pozgroup.com are talking about this news. What they care most is if the new DNA test can change the positive result given by pap test. Is it possible to be tested as positive with pap, while negative with this new DNA test? You know, wrong test result of STD can really make a big change in your life.

By: Barry Starr

Barry Starr — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:14:02 +0000

Thanks, I never had epidemiology!

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:30:47 +0000

Thanks for the reminder. I’m going in for my smear next Friday. After having skipped it for a number of years. /me hides in shame

By: NPs Save Lives

NPs Save Lives — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:27:24 +0000

It’s very important that patients get their preventive testing done on a regular basis. Too many times people say “would have, should have, could have” in hindsight.

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:13:29 +0000

The good news is that cervical cancer, if caught early, is highly curable.

From the American Cancer Society:

“The 5-year relative survival rate for the earliest stage of invasive cervical cancer is 92%.”

The results I listed above are actually sensitivities and false positives. The sensitivity of the HPV DNA test is 95% while the Pap smear is 55% sensitive.

Sensitivity =
True Positives/(True Positives + False Negatives)

Ahh. Don’t you just love epidemiology!

By: Barry Starr

Barry Starr — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 18:08:42 +0000

Good point Hsien although a false positive can be pretty hard to deal with. My stepmother still remembers her false positive breast cancer result. Am I reading the results correctly that a pap smear gives a false negative 45% of the time and the HPV test a false negative 5% of the time? If so, I know which one I want my wife to have…

By: Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD

Hsien-Hsien Lei, PhD — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:39:59 +0000

In this case, better a false positive than a false negative. False positive women will go on to find out that there’s nothing to worry about with further diagnostic testing. False negative women, on the other hand, who have precancerous lesions or cervical cancer will go on without treatment when they absolutely need it.