Prevalence of HPV in a Melbourne Female STD Population: Comparison of RNA and DNA Probes in Detecting HPV by Dot Blot Hybridization

A total of 377 women, consecutively selected as first attenders to a sexually transmitted diseases clinic in Melbourne, Australia, were examined for overt Condylomata acuminata and were screened for genital HPV DNA types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33 and (35) using 2 dot blot hybridization methods. Overall, there was a 90% positivity correlation between the 2 methods with HPV DNA being detected in 12% of ectocervical samples. Overt warts were found in 15% of the women and HPV DNA was detected at the cervix in 35% with cytology predicting HPV with or without dysplasia in 27%. Thirteen percent had a past history of warts but none on examination and HPV DNA was evident in 16% while 18% had cytological features of HPV. Those with no warts evident and no past history of warts had both HPV DNA and cytological features of HPV in 7%.