Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: March 11, 2014
Human papillomavirus DNA in LEEP plume
A K Sood1, Z Bahrani-Mostafavi, J Stoerker
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Florida College of Medicine P.O. Box 100294 Gainesville, FL 32610-0294, USA.
Objective:
This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) plumes.
Methods:
Forty-nine consecutive patients with colposcopic and cytologic evidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were tested. Smoke plumes were collected through a filter placed in the suction tubing. DNA was harvested by proteinase K digest of the filters and prepared for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by L1 consensus primers.
Results:
Thirty-nine (80%) tissue samples were positive for HPV, with types 6/11 in 4, 16/18 in 19, 31/33/35 in 2, and other types in 6 patients. The tissue sample was inadequate for typing in 8 patients. HPV DNA was detected in 18 (37%) filters.
Conclusions:
Although the consequences of HPV in LEEP plume are unknown, it would be prudent to adopt stringent control procedures.
