Human papillomavirus (HPV) test
Explanation
A high-risk HPV test looks for types of human papillomavirus linked to cancer of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. It detects genetic material from the virus in a sample collected for cervical screening. A positive result is not a diagnosis of cancer.
How is an HPV test different from a Pap test?
An HPV test looks for the virus. A Pap test examines cells from the cervix for changes. The two tests may be performed together, sometimes using the same sample, but their results answer different questions. Some HPV tests name particular virus types; others report a group of high-risk types.
What does a positive HPV result mean?
It means that the test detected high-risk HPV in the sample. It does not show whether there are abnormal cells or whether cancer will develop. The result is considered alongside any Pap result and your earlier screening history.
The test cannot tell when the infection started or who passed it on. A positive result after earlier negative tests does not necessarily mean a recent infection.
What does a negative result leave open?
A negative result means that the high-risk HPV types covered by the test were not detected in that sample. It does not rule out every HPV type or infection at another body site. The sample and the test method affect the result, and no screening test detects every case.
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