HPV testing for high-risk HPV infection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
HPV testing for high-risk HPV infection in young women
IRAS ID
61390
Contact name
Margaret E Cruickshank
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Research summary
Girls aged 12-13 are now vaccinated against the two most common types of high-risk HPV (HPV16 and HPV18) which are implicated in approximately 70% of cervical cancers. In immunised women, the incidence of pre-cancerous lesions (CIN) is expected to fall, and it is not clear how well the current screening programme (based on cytological testing) will perform in immunised women. It has been proposed that screening including HPV testing - either instead of cytology or in combination with cytology - may perform better in picking up disease.\n\nIn Scotland the catch-up vaccination campaign has vaccinated girls up to the age of 18. These women enter the screening programme aged 20, providing an opportunity to investigate screening in these women.\n\nIn this study, we propose to investigate the performance of cytology and HPV testing to screen for CIN in an immunised cohort - the girls who have been vaccinated in the catch-up campaign will start to be screened at age 20 during 2011. We propose to use the residual from the cervical screening sample to test for HPV infection in these women. As part of this study, women with low-grade cytology test and who test HPV positive will be referred for a colposcopy examination. As part of the routine screening programme women who have a high-grade cytology test are referred for a colposcopy- examination. We propose to use routinely collected colposcopy data to compare the performance of cytology and HPV testing to screen for pre-cancerous disease.\n\nThe findings from this study, together with those from the other studies being carried out or planned by the research team, will inform modelling work, which will, in turn, help shape the future of cervical screening.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
11/AL/0053
Date of REC Opinion
24 May 2011
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion