HPV DNA Test

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KEY POINTS

• The human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA test can show if you have been infected with HPV.
• A sampling of cells is taken during a routine pelvic exam and Pap test, which is a screening test done to check for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix or vagina. The sample is sent to a lab.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about what the test results mean and ask any questions you have.

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What is an HPV DNA test?

There are many types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Some types cause genital warts and other types cause warts on other parts of the body. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers. Some types of HPV are called “high-risk strains” and can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, or vulva in women. In men, high-risk strain HPV can cause cancer of the penis. In both men and women, high-risk strain HPV can cause cancer of the anus or mouth.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule that is in all of your body’s cells. DNA provides the information that tells your body how to develop and work. The HPV virus also contains DNA. The HPV DNA can bind to and enter the cells in your body and make more of the virus DNA and virus protein. The HPV DNA test measures how much and what kind of HPV DNA is in your body.

Why is this test done?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US. You can get HPV by having vaginal, oral, or anal sex with someone who has the virus. You can have HPV without knowing it because you may not have any symptoms.

The HPV DNA test is done to see if you have a high-risk type of HPV that may cause cancer. Depending on your risk factors, the test is usually recommended every 5 years for women between the ages of 30 and 65, or for women of any age who have had an abnormal Pap test or are at high risk for infection. Women aged 25 to 65 may choose to have an HPV test without a Pap test every 3 years.

Currently, there are no FDA-approved tests to check for HPV in men.

How do I prepare for this test?

• The best time to schedule the test is at a time when you are between periods.
• Don’t douche for at least 2 days before the Pap test.
• Don’t use any creams or medicine in your vagina for at least 2 days before the Pap test unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Don’t have sex for 2 days before the Pap test.

How is the test done?

A sampling of cells is taken during a routine pelvic exam and Pap test, which is a screening test done to check for abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix or vagina. Your provider will use a small, soft brush to take a few cells from the cervix. The cells will be sent to a lab for testing.

Some labs do HPV DNA tests using DNA taken by a swab of the anus in males.

Ask your healthcare provider when and how you will get the result of your test.

What does the test result mean?

A positive high-risk HPV DNA test means that you have the virus. This does not mean that you will get cancer. However, you may have a higher risk of developing cell changes that could lead to cervical cancer over time.

If your high-risk HPV DNA test is negative, you have a low risk of developing cervical cancer in the next 3 to 5 years.

HPV test results and Pap test results go together when determining a woman's risk for cervical cancer.

What if the test result is not normal?

Test results are only one part of a larger picture that takes into account your medical history, physical exam, and current health. Sometimes a test needs to be repeated to check the first result. Talk to your healthcare provider about the result and ask questions such as:

• If you need more tests
• What kind of treatment you might need
• What lifestyle, diet, or other changes you might need to make
• If the HPV vaccination is right for you