Do other commercial HPV molecular tests only assess the types most frequently associated with anal-genital tumors?
Right, those commercially available tests focus on anal-genital subtypes, and those that are highest risk. But in terms of the warts, we see a different spectrum of HPVs that come up, and that’s why we did the E1-based assay. The four HPV types you chose for this are the same four types represented in Merck’s Gardasil vaccine. Those four types are associated with the majority of HPV-associated disease, both benign and malignant. Also, we’re doing a couple of clinical trials right now looking at the effectiveness of the vaccine and how it influences oral HPV shedding. There are two studies ongoing right now, one in men and one in women. What types of PCR probes and methodologies are you using to develop these tests? One is SYBR Green-based, the E1. The other one is TaqMan based with specific probes that target each of the four types. Are you getting adequate sensitivity and specificity with your test? Are there any changes you could make to increase that? One of the co-authors, Joel Pal
