[Methods used in the identification of human papillomavirus]

Given the causal relationship between specific types of HPV with cervical cancer and precursor lesions, it is important to identify the viral type involved. The characterization is done by various methods that vary in sensitivity and specificity, whose use depends mainly on the aim pursued and the characteristics of the evaluated sample. HPV typing is not only important clinically for the establishment of monitoring and treatment of a patient, it also provides knowledge of the viral types circulating in a population, which is of interest in the development of prevention and treatment programs for this disease. This paper is a review of methods used in the detection and identification of HPV in cervical cancer lesions, highlighting their sensitivity and specificity.