Urine test may identify human papillomavirus accurately

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study published in The BMJ, researchers say a urine screening may be accurate at identifying human papillomavirus (HPV). In the study, researchers analyzed 14 studies that tested both the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test and a urine test to test for HPV in nearly 1,500 sexually active women.

The researchers found that the sensitivity of urine HPV screening was 87% on average and specificity was 94% versus a Pap smear. When researchers only looked at identifying HPV types 16 and 18, the strains that cause cervical cancer and which Gardasil protects against, sensitivity was 73% while specificity was 98%. Researchers note that urine HPV testing accuracy improved when a patient's first-void, first urine sample of the day, was used.

The researchers suggest that urine testing for HPV may be an acceptable alternative to a Pap smear, especially for those who require increased coverage for subgroups that are difficult to reach; however, they also note that there was variation between individual studies, and therefore, the results should be interpreted with caution. Further studies are warranted before urine testing for HPV should be recommended in the clinical setting.