HPV Test (HPV DNA PCR)

How Is the HPV DNA PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Test Performed?

It should be performed when a definitive diagnosis cannot be made based on genital wart appearance, or when a Pap smear taken from the cervix returns a suspicious result.

When performing an HPV DNA PCR test on the cervix, a swab sample is taken — exactly as with a Pap smear, with no difference in the procedure itself. The only difference is that after collection, it is sent to a genetic testing lab in a special storage container with a preservative solution.

If a sample is being taken from a wart, a very small, millimeter-sized piece is sufficient.

This advanced diagnostic method, used at leading technologically advanced centers across Europe and Turkey, is also frequently used at our clinic.

If the test result is positive, determining the specific HPV type — known as HPV genotyping — is necessary for risk assessment and treatment planning.

A second sample does NOT need to be taken from the patient for HPV genotyping. The virus type is determined by further analyzing the sample already collected for the HPV PCR test.

What Is PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction)?

It is the enzymatic production of unique genetic fragments (DNA or RNA) found in humans and all living organisms.

The enzyme used is called "polymerase." In reality, the PCR process — DNA polymerization, or the copying and amplification of DNA — occurs continuously in living cells.

PCR is essentially a replica of this DNA polymerization process, performed for specific purposes in small PCR tubes or glass capillaries.

The polymerization process that occurs inside living cells is replicated in PCR tubes by adding all the necessary chemical substances and applying specific temperature conditions.

The HPV DNA PCR test, based on a smear or wart sample, returns a result of HPV positive (+) or HPV negative (–).