The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Laboratory e-Manual: A comprehensive guide for HPV testing and research

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and HPV-based cervical cancer screening are central pillars of the World Health Organization (WHO) global cervical cancer elimination strategy. The WHO HPV Laboratory Manual, published in 2009, has provided essential guidance to promote an internationally comparable quality of HPV testing for many years. As the development in this area is rapid, the Global Network of National HPV Reference Laboratories considered that there is a need for an updated HPV Laboratory e-Manual to serve as a comprehensive and interactive resource for professionals engaged in quality-assured HPV testing for research and/or HPV-based cancer control.

The HPV Laboratory e-Manual covers key areas, including laboratory quality assurance, HPV taxonomy and risk association, collection and handling of specimens, nucleic acid extraction, HPV detection and typing, HPV serology, data management, and the use of international standards. It provides up-to-date protocols and best practices to enhance accuracy and reliability of HPV testing. Interactive features allow for real-time updates, making it a dynamic resource for laboratories worldwide. The e-Manual is freely available at: https://www.hpvcenter.se/hpv-laboratory-manual/.

The e-Manual has been developed by international experts from 11 countries, including contributors from the International HPV Reference Center (IHRC, Sweden), the CDC's Global HPV Reference Laboratory (USA), and multiple National HPV Reference Laboratories (NRLs). The standard procedure for writing a chapter was that 2 NRLs authored the chapter and 1 other NRL reviewed it.

The HPV Laboratory e-Manual represents a step toward global harmonization in laboratory methodologies for HPV testing, underpinning both research and cervical cancer control efforts.