HPV screening may boost detection

Tests that look for the virus linked to cervical cancer may be more successful than conventional screening, researchers report today.

Young women are now being vaccinated against the human papillomavirus to prevent cervical cancer.

But the new findings suggest the virus is so closely linked to cervical cancer that testing for it may be the best way of conducting screening programmes.

A study in Finland involved nearly 60,000 women – half of whom were tested using conventional smear tests. The other half were tested for the virus.

The researchers say that HPV testing identified 40 per cent more cases of potential cancer than did conventional smear testing.

Researcher Dr Ahti Anttila, of the Finnish Cancer Registry Helsinki, Finland, said: "Our results are important for prevention of cervical cancer."

British Medical Journal on-line