Detection of high-risk HPV types by the hybrid capture 2 test

A hybrid capture test that can be used to detect at least 13 high-risk HPV types (referred to collectively as HPV-HR) in cervical scrapes (Hybrid Capture 2 probe set B, HC2-B) was evaluated. The HC2-B test is accurate and highly reproducible and the results obtained show excellent agreement with those obtained by a multiplexed type-specific polymerase chain reaction (mts-PCR). An additional assay to identify a subset of HPV-HR types may improve specificity without compromising sensitivity in HC2-B positive specimens with a test result close to the cut-off value given by 1 pg/ml HPV DNA.