HPV test

If it is necessary to pass a test to identify HPV, then there is nothing to worry about. Most of the procedures are absolutely painless and some are quite tolerable by any patient. Consider the most common questions about testing.

What is HPV?

The human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, HPV DNA causes a mutation that leads to irreversible processes. Most of the population is already a carrier of the virus, but few people realize this, as the virus does not manifest itself in any way.

As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and growths appear on the body. For all skin formations, except moles and acne, it is HPV that affects. If growths are not treated promptly, malignancy occurs and a harmless wart can turn into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.

Why is the human papillomavirus dangerous?

When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person can hardly distinguish them from each other, mistaking them for something that is not capable of causing harm.

It is not that simple: a small papilloma can grow to such a size that it will cause many inconveniences, from cosmetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus are known and each of them manifests in different ways.

blood test for human papillomavirus

The most common are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer of the mucosa, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. Since at first a person does not know about the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually and after 5 to 10 years a person sees changes in his body in the form of growths.

Papilloma analysis can be performed in any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. A timely diagnosis gives a person the opportunity for a painless old age, which will not be overshadowed by cancer.

Why take the human papillomavirus test?

To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to timely identify a potential threat to life and health. With an extensive list of reasons for its spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact: hugging, kissing, sexual intercourse, using common hygiene products.

The virus takes root under the skin and destroys the healthy structure of DNA, mutating throughout the body. When immunity fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas, and similar rashes. Only a test can detect the virus at an early stage and block its spread.

When is an HPV test scheduled?

the appearance of a wart as a reason for a PPH test

When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them even with a visual examination. An HPV test is prescribed to understand where the virus comes from in the body, identify the type, and then eliminate it.

Even considering that not all infected people are capable of becoming cancer patients, no one wants to tempt fate, so testing is necessary. If a woman plans to become pregnant, she should be tested for HPV, as the virus will easily penetrate the baby. The father should not be indifferent either, because he can be a carrier of the papilloma virus.

Features of passing the test for HPV

Detection of HPV before age 30 is thought to be uninformative, as the disease progresses well beyond the human eye. After 30, the first tests are prescribed that can detect the papillomavirus even in the earliest stages.

The less time that has passed since the time of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells begin to become cancerous. Methods for diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on several factors:

  1. Identification of the virus and the fact of its presence in the body.
  2. Discover the variety
  3. Assess the damage caused during the period in which the person did not seek medical help.
  4. Prescribe an effective and high-quality treatment.

Remember:the virus will never completely leave the host, as it already interacts with the body's DNA cells. HPV will remain calm until immune defenses are weakened.

What type of analysis transmit HPV detection?

  • Colposcopic exam. HPV testing in women is done using this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. It is prescribed to women to detect genital warts located in the cervical region.
  • Cytology. A smear is taken, which contains epithelial cells, then the collected samples are examined under a microscope. If the cells are altered, there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a risk of a false result.
  • Histology. It is an addition to cytology to exclude an error. A small part of the affected tissue is taken and the doctor evaluates the difficulty of the position through a microscope. With the help of histological examination, it is possible to determine the nature of the formation.
  • PCR diagnosis. The most truthful way with 98% accuracy. Removal of swab, urine, blood, or amniotic fluid

If at least one exam reveals the presence of a virus, the patient will be sent for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result was found to be a false positive, then contaminated test material or a violation of generally accepted sampling technique may be the cause.

Sometimes patients incorrectly prepare for analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure; these factors can also cause false results.

Test rules

In addition to depending on the treating physician, the patient himself must follow the process of passing the analysis and know the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but health belongs to the patient.

How is the biomaterial taken?

The strokes are taken with a soft brush, which looks like a paintbrush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon with a long stem. Said brush is gently inserted into the canal and then removed with rotational movements. The brush is placed in a sterile flask and shipped for further investigation.

How to prepare for the procedure for women.

2 days before the procedure, you can not live sexually, use soap with antibacterial effect, shower, use tampons. If a smear was taken from the cervix, after the procedure for 3 weeks, you can not have sex, play sports, overheat, swim in public places and take drugs that affect blood thinning.

swab sampling for HPP analysis

How to prepare for the procedure for men.

Sexual intercourse is excluded, showering for 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.

General preparation for the procedure

It is necessary to inform the doctor about all the medicines that a person has taken in the last 2 months.

How is an HPV blood test done?

It is used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on the type of analysis the person performs. A slight tingling sensation from the injection is the ultimate discomfort of the procedure. If the vessels in the elbow area are narrow, the process of drawing blood will become difficult, but the doctor will tell you how to properly expand the vein.

The procedure is done on an empty stomach, you can't even drink water. It is advisable to take a chocolate bar with you. 3 days before donating blood, it is necessary to exclude from the diet all foods that provoke an allergic reaction.

How is urine tested?

It is better to take care of the sterile bottle yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect your morning urine in a jar on an empty stomach. Then take it for your exam, preferably immediately, the maximum period is 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as drawing blood, but if it is not possible to donate blood, you will have to use this method.

human papillomavirus diagnosis

How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?

If a colposcopic examination was performed, the result is issued immediately. With a cytological examination, the results will be ready only after a week. Histology is done for 3 days, then you can get the test result on your hands. With PCR diagnostics, you can take the results immediately or wait up to 2 days.

When and how often should you get tested for HPV?

Up to age 30, only those who have clear signs of growths on their bodies are screened. HPV is generally inactive at this age and does not spread throughout the body.

From 30 to 60 years it is necessary to go to an exam every 3 years. The level of immunity is decreasing, so the signs of the human papillomavirus must be detected in time.

After 60 years, tests are usually not done. If no virus was detected during the last two tests, you don't need to worry. If there were manifestations, you will have to participate in the treatment until the last 2 results are negative.

Cost and prices of delivering HPV tests

In the presence of acute illnesses or after the conclusion of a cancerous tumor, most examinations are free. They can be prescribed by the treating oncologist.

To get a complete picture of the development of the virus, generally 2 methods are used to eliminate the probability of false information.

Decoding the results

Decryption should only be done by the treating physician. Patient intervention will be of no use. To understand what the results are about, you need to pay attention to the following words:

  • reference values: HPV is absent;
  • positive result: an oncogenic strain of HPV was detected;
  • the result is negative: no cancerous manifestations were found, but there is a possibility of finding other types of HPV.

If the patient decided to regain health and find out the presence of the human papillomavirus in her body, then the above methods should be resorted to. Timely diagnoses saved millions of people and helped find a peaceful and healthy life. Only after passing thorough tests is it possible to prescribe quality treatment.

Sometimes the patient is sent for tests with no external signs of disease, and the procedure shows that HPV is present in the body. In this case, the treatment will not take long. It is for this reason that doctors recommend seeking help early.