DNA tests usually find more HPV types. Why is PreTect HPV-Proofer better with only five types?
The five HPV types offered by PreTect HPV-Proofer, i.e. HPV 16, 18, 31, 33 and 45, cover 97-99% of all HPV induced cervical cancer in Europe, North America and Australia. HPV DNA tests have two main problems. 1) HPV DNA tests will miss 5-10% of cervical cancer samples due to integration of HPV DNA followed by deletion of parts of the genome. The virus has lost its possibility to reproduce and have lost most of its own regulation. Small and maybe undetectable quantities of HPV DNA may therefore be present, still producing large quantities of both E6/E7 mRNA and oncoproteins. Independent clinical studies shows that HPV DNA tests miss up to 10% of very good and representative samples from women with cervical cancer. 2) HPV DNA tests will identify 20-30% of normal women as positive. A lot of women will be told that they have a dangerous HPV virus in their cervix, but more than 90% will be false positive answers, i.e. there is no production of E6/E7 oncoproteins present. In a screening situ
