What is the test for HPV virus?
Taking an HPV Test. For cervical cancer screening and Pap smear follow-up, an HPV test requires a sample of cells from the opening of the cervix. These cells are obtained by gently scraping the cervix with a swab or small brush. At-home HPV testing provides a swab to collect a sample of cells from the vagina.
What does HPV aptima positive mean?
The Aptima® HPV assay is the first FDA-approved test for HPV. mRNA, and the test detects mRNA from 14 high- risk HPV types associated with cervical cancer.1 The Aptima. HPV assay can be used together with the Pap for women age.
Do I need a colposcopy every year if I have HPV?
If you also have the HPV virus, you should then have a colposcopy. If you’re HPV negative, you have a choice: a colposcopy or another Pap in 12 months. High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) means the cells look very different from normal cells and are probably precancerous.
How is the HPV test done for cervical cancer?
A soft, narrow brush or tiny spatula is used to collect a small sample of cells from your cervix. The sample of cervical cells is sent to a lab, where the cells can be checked to see if they are infected with the types of HPV that cause cancer (an HPV test).
How is a colposcopy used to diagnose cervical cancer?
Your doctor can use a colposcopy to diagnose cervical cancer, genital warts, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer, as well. Once your doctor gets the results from your colposcopy, he’ll know whether or not you need further tests. How Is It Done? Your doctor will have you lie on an exam table, and she’ll use a speculum to keep your vagina open.
What is the difference between a Pap test and a HPV test?
The HPV test checks cells for infection with high-risk HPV types. The Pap test (also called a Pap smear or cervical cytology) collects cervical cells and looks at them for changes caused by HPV that may—if left untreated—turn into cervical cancer.
What to do if you have an abnormal HPV test?
If medications don’t work, your doctor might suggest removing warts by one of these methods: If you have an abnormal HPV or Pap test, your gynecologist will perform a procedure called a colposcopy.