Molecular triage for HPV-positive samples in cervical cancer screening

Human papillomavirus (HPV) test is recommended as the primary screening method as HPV is the cause of cervical cancer and HSIL. The screening also includes an additional test (triage test) on HPV-positive screening samples, in order to more reliably detect HSIL. However, HPV screening with cytology as a triage method results in many women being examined unnecessarily since many infections clear and will not lead to dysplasia development. This is why better methods of triaging after an HPV positive sample are needed, to minimize the risk of overtreatment. As a triage method, there are indications that methylation and extended genotyping could be used as triage. This could also be used on vaginal samples that the woman takes herself. However, regarding methods with methylation and genotyping, there are no major studies on screening material, which is why in this study we want to examine already collected sample material in the regular cervical screening with these molecular triages.