A rapid solution hybridization method for detection of human papillomaviruses

Nucleic acid hybridization methods in routine diagnosis of micro-organisms have been limited by the tedious assay procedures. We have previously described the sandwich hybridization method which allows convenient testing of biological specimens. In this paper we describe the adaptation of the solution hydridization method into the microtitre plate format using 35S-isotope as label. Using 3-hour hybridization followed by 2-hour collection of the hybrids a sensitivity of 5 x 10(5) target DNA molecules was achieved. The method was applied for identification of human papillomaviruses in crude gynaecological specimens. A simple 1-day assay protocol was achieved with high HPV type specificity. The specificity was confirmed by testing a variety of unrelated micro-organisms, none of which gave a positive signal in the test. Results, obtained as numerical values, were easy to interpret; positive and negative samples gave clearly distinguishable signals.

Use of AffiProbe HPV test kit for detection of human papillomavirus DNA in genital scrapes

The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical and vaginal scrapes was analyzed by the AffiProbe HPV test kit (Orion Corp., Orion Pharmaceutica, Helsinki, Finland), which is a 1-day solution hybridization test for HPV type 6/11, 16, or 18. The AffiProbe test was compared with a commercially available dot blot test (ViraPap and ViraType tests; Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). The study group consisted of 178 patients seen in a gynecological outpatient clinic. Altogether, 64 specimens (36 cervical and 28 vaginal scrapes) from 49 patients were positive by the AffiProbe test. Concurrently collected cervical scrapes from 174 patients were available for the reference test, which yielded 27 positive results for HPV type 6/11 or 16/18 and 25 positive results for HPV type 31/33/35. Agreement as to the presence of HPV type 6/11, 16, or 18 by the two tests was reached in 85% of the specimens. Eleven cervical specimens were positive by the AffiProbe test only, and nine cervical specimens were positive by the ViraType test only. Independent evidence obtained by the polymerase chain reaction, repeat examination, or the concurrent presence of HPV DNA in vaginal or vulval epithelium supported the AffiProbe and the ViraType test results for 6 of the 11 and 6 of the 9 specimens with discrepant results, respectively. Thus, the DNA tests had similar sensitivities for HPV type 6/11, 16, and 18 DNAs, but the results were obtained within 1 day by the AffiProbe test, whereas results for the ViraPap and ViraType analyses required from 4 days to 2 weeks.