Hybrid Capture 2 Assay Based Evaluation of High-Risk HPV Status in Healthy Women of North-East India

Background: High risk HPV (HR-HPV) testing has been recommended as an effective tool along withcytology screening in identification of cervical intraepithelial lesions (CINs) and prevention of their progresstowards invasive cervical cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the HR-HPV DNA status by HybridCapture 2 (HC2) assay in healthy asymptomatic women of North-East India. Materials and
Methods: This studyexamined cervical cell samples of forty three (n=43) healthy women by HC2 assay. A High Risk HPV DNA kit(Qiagen) was used which can detect 13 high risk HPV types: 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 68.
Results: The mean relative light units (RLU) for samples was in the range of 141-5, 94, 619. HR-HPV DNA wasconfirmed in 16% (7/43) of participant women samples. Among demographic and clinical parameters, menstrualirregularity (p=0.039) and infection history (p=0.028) has shown statistically significant differences between theHR-HPV-positive and negative groups. In the HR-HPV positive group, two women were confirmed for CINsafter colposcopy and histopathologic examination.
Conclusions: We suggest that there may be an associationbetween irregular menstruation and infection history of the urogenital tract with HR-HPV DNA prevalence inNorth-East Indian asymptomatic women. HC2 assay can be a valuable tool for HR-HPV screening.