If an analysis needs to be run to identify HPV, then there is nothing to worry about. Most procedures are completely painless, and some are acceptable to any patient. Consider the most common questions about delivering tests.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that has a cellular structure of DNA. When introduced into the human body, mutation in HPV DNA results in irreversible processes. Most of the population are already carriers of the virus, but few people understand this, since the virus does not manifest itself in any way.
As soon as the body fails, the immune system weakens and growth appears on the body. For all formations on the skin, except peat and acne, HPV is affected. If the growths are not treated promptly, malignancy occurs and a benign wart can lead to cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papilloma virus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person is barely able to distinguish them from each other, confusing something that cannot harm.
It’s not that simple - a small papilloma can grow so large that it can cause a lot of discomfort - from aesthetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 strains of human papillomavirus virus are known and each of them manifests itself in different ways.
The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which stimulate cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis and other similar diseases. Because one does not know about the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually and after 5-10 years a person sees changes in his body in the form of growths.
Papilloma can be analyzed at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. A timely diagnosis gives an elderly person a painless, cancer-free chance.
Why test for human papillomavirus virus?
To protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you should identify in a timely manner a potential threat to life and health. With an extensive list of causes of the spread, HPV is transmitted from person to person through close contact - hugs, kissing, sexual intercourse, and common hygiene products.
The virus builds a root under the skin and destroys the healthy structure of DNA, circulating throughout the body. When immunity fails, HPV appears on the skin in the form of warts, papillomas and similar rashes. Examination can only detect the virus at an early stage and prevent its further spread.
When is an HPV test scheduled?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can see them even with a visual examination. HPV testing is prescribed to understand where the virus came from in the body, identify the type and then eliminate it.
Even considering that not everyone who is infected is capable of being a cancer patient, no one wants to temple the fate, which means that tests need to be done. If a woman is planning to become pregnant, she needs to be tested for HPV, since the virus can easily pass through the baby. The father should also not be indifferent, as he can be a carrier of the papillomavirus virus.
Aspects of running the analysis for HPV
It is believed that the detection of HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, since the disease goes far beyond human expectations. After 30, the first tests that can detect papillomavirus virus are prescribed even at the earliest stages.
The less time that has elapsed since the moment of infection, the more effective the subsequent treatment. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells begin to grow into cancerous cells. The methods for diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on a number of factors:
- Identify the virus and the fact that it is in the body
- Discover the variety
- Assess the damage done during the period when the person did not seek medical help
- Prescribe high quality effective treatment
Remember:the virus will never leave the host completely, since it already interacts with the body’s DNA cells. HPV will remain stable until the immune defenses are weakened.
What type of analysis will be given for HPV detection?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV tests are performed in women on this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. It is prescribed for women to detect genital warts located in the cervical region.
- Cytology. A smear, containing epithelial cells, is taken, then the samples taken are examined under a microscope. If the cells are altered, then there is a risk of developing HPV. There is a danger of a false result.
- Histology. It is an addition to cytology to exclude error. A small piece of the tissue is taken and the doctor assesses the difficulty of the site through a microscope. With the help of histological examination, the nature of the formation can be determined.
- PCR diagnostics. The true way with 98% accuracy. Swab, urine, blood, or amniotic fluid taken
If at least one examination reveals the presence of a virus, the patient will be referred for further analysis in order to ensure the accuracy of the result. If a false positive result was found, then it could be caused by contaminated test material or a violation of a generally accepted sampling technique.
Sometimes patients incorrectly prepare for the analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also lead to false results.
Test rules
In addition to relying on the attending physician, the patient must himself or herself know the process for passing the analysis and the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but health belongs to the patient.
How is biomaterial constructed?
The strokes are taken with a soft brush, which has the appearance of a brush. In free clinics, a Volkmann spoon is sometimes used - it is a small spoon on a long stem. Such a brush is gently inserted into the canal, then removed with rotating movements. The brush is placed in a sterile flask and sent for further research.
How to prepare for the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure, you can not live sexually, use soap with antibacterial effect, use douche, tampons. If smears were taken from the cervix, then after the procedure for 3 weeks, you can not have sex, play sports, overheat, swim in public places and take medications that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Sexual intercourse is excluded, shower for 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation for the procedure
It is necessary to inform the doctor about all drugs that a person has taken in the last 2 months.
How is an HPV blood tested?
Used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on the type of analysis the person will perform. The greatest discomfort from the procedure is a slight tingling sensation from the injection. If the vessels are in the area of the narrow angle, then the process of taking blood will be difficult, but the doctor will tell you how to properly expand the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, you can not even drink water. It is advisable to bring a chocolate bar. 3 days before blood is donated, all foods that cause an allergic reaction need to be excluded from the diet.
How is urine tested?
It is best to take care of the sterile jar yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine in a jar on an empty stomach. Then take it for examination, perhaps immediately, the maximum time is 4 times or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as taking blood, but if blood cannot be donated, you will need to use this method.
How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination has been performed, the result is issued immediately. With cytological examination, the results will be ready only after a week. Histology is done for 3 days, then you can get the test result on your hands. With PCR diagnostics, you can take the results immediately or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should you be tested for HPV?
Until the age of 30, only those with clear signs of growth on their body are examined. At this age, HPV is usually dormant and does not spread throughout the body.
From the age of 30 to 60, an examination is required every 3 years. The level of immunity is falling, so the symptoms of the human papillomavirus should be detected in time.
After 60 years, no exams are usually taken. If a virus was not detected during the last two tests, then you need not worry. If there were indications, then you will have to undergo treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Cost and prices for delivery of HPV tests
In the presence of an acute illness or when a cancerous tumor is completed, most examinations are free. They can be prescribed by the attending oncologist.
To get a complete picture of the development of the virus, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the likelihood of false information.
Decoding the results
Only the attending physician should decrypt. Patient intervention will do no good. To understand what the results mean, you should pay attention to the following words:
- reference values - HPV is absent;
- positive result - oncogenic HPV strain was detected;
- the result is negative - no cancerous manifestations have been found, but there is the possibility of detecting other types of HPV.
If the patient decided to engage in health and find out about the presence of the human papillomavirus virus in his body, then the above methods should be resorted to. Timely diagnostics have saved millions of people and helped lead a calm, healthy life. Quality treatment can only be prescribed after the tests have been thoroughly passed.
Sometimes the patient is sent for tests without external signs of the disease, and the procedure shows the presence of HPV in the body. In this case, the treatment will not take long. It is for this reason that doctors recommend seeking help in a timely manner.