If you need to pass an analysis to identify HPV, you have nothing to worry about. Most procedures are completely painless and some are tolerated by all patients. Consider the most common questions about submitting tests.
What is HPV?
Human papillomavirus is a microorganism that contains the cellular structure of DNA. Once in the human body, HPV causes DNA mutations that lead to irreversible processes. Most of the population is already a carrier of the virus, but few people notice this because the virus does not manifest in any way.
As the body fails, the immune system weakens and growths appear in the body. For all formations on the skin, except for moles and acne, it is affected by HPV. If the tumors are not treated immediately, a malignant tumor can develop and the harmless wart can develop into cervical cancer in women and urethral cancer in men.
Why is the human papilloma virus dangerous?
When papillomas, genital warts, or warts appear on the body, an ordinary person is hardly able to distinguish them from each other, confused with something that cannot cause harm.
It’s not that simple - a small papilloma can grow to a size that causes a lot of discomfort - from aesthetic discomfort to the development of cancerous tumors. More than 130 human papillomavirus strains are known, and each is expressed in a different manner.
The most common of these are types 16 and 18, which cause cancer of the mucous membranes, cervix, vagina, penis, and other similar diseases. Because at first a person does not know about the presence of the virus in the body, HPV develops gradually and after 5-10 years a person sees growth in their body.
Papilloma analysis can be performed at any clinic. After 40 years, more than half of the lesions become malignant. Timely diagnosis gives a person a chance for painless old age that is not overshadowed by cancer.
Why test human papillomavirus?
In order to protect yourself from oncogenic diseases, you need to recognize the potential danger to life and health in a timely manner. With an extensive list of reasons for its spread, HPV spreads from person to person through close contact — hugs, kisses, sexual intercourse, and the use of shared hygiene products.
The virus is rooted under the skin and destroys the healthy DNA structure, mutating throughout the body. If immunity fails, HPV appears in the form of warts, papillomas, and similar rashes on the skin. Only one test can detect the virus at an early stage and prevent its further spread.
When is an HPV test planned?
When the first signs of the disease appear on the body, the doctor can also see them by visual inspection. An HPV test is prescribed to understand where the virus comes from in the body, identify the type, and then eliminate it.
Even considering that not everyone infected can become a cancer patient, no one wants to haunt fate, which means there is a need for testing. If a woman wants to get pregnant, she should be tested for HPV because the virus can easily penetrate the baby. Nor should the father be indifferent because he may be the carrier of the papillomavirus.
Transmission characteristics of HPV analysis
It is believed that the detection of HPV before the age of 30 is not informative, as the disease goes far beyond the human eye. After 30 years, the first tests are prescribed, which can detect papillomavirus even in the earliest stages.
The less time that has elapsed since the moment of infection, the more effective subsequent treatment will be. It is necessary to identify the moment when normal cells grow into cancer cells. Methods for diagnosing human papillomavirus depend on a number of factors:
- Identification of the virus and its presence in the body
- Learn about variety
- Assess the damage that occurred during the period when the person did not seek medical attention
- Prescribe high quality and effective treatment
Remember:the virus never leaves the host completely because it is already interacting with the body’s DNA cells. HPV stays calm until the immune system weakens.
What analysis should be submitted for the detection of HPV?
- Colposcopic examination. HPV testing in women is performed using this method. It is designed to detect genital warts. Women are required to detect genital warts in the cervical region.
- Cytology. A smear containing epithelial cells was taken and the samples were examined under a microscope. If the cells change, there is a risk of HPV developing. There is a risk of a false result.
- Histology. This is an addition to the cytology to rule out the error. A small piece of the affected tissue is taken and the doctor uses a microscope to assess the severity of the situation. Histological examination can be used to determine the nature of the formation.
- PCR diagnostics. The most authentic method with 98% accuracy. Swabs, urine, blood, or amniotic fluid were taken
If at least one test reveals the presence of the virus, the patient is sent for further analysis to ensure the accuracy of the result. If the result is found to be false positive, it may be due to a violation of the contaminated test substance or generally accepted sampling technique.
Sometimes patients are ill-prepared for analysis or choose the wrong time for the procedure - these factors can also cause false results.
Test rules
In addition to relying on the treating physician, the patient himself should follow the process of handing over the analysis and be familiar with the basic processes. The doctor is a specialist, but the health belongs to the patient.
How is the biomaterial taken up?
The blows are taken with a soft brush that looks like a brush. Free clinics sometimes use a Volkmann spoon - this is a teaspoon on the long stalk. Such a brush is carefully inserted into the channel and then removed by rotating motions. The brush is placed in a sterile flask and sent for further research.
How to prepare for the procedure for women
2 days before the procedure you should not have sex, use antibacterial soap, take a shower, use a tampon. If a smear has been taken from the cervix, you should not have sex, exercise, overheat, swim in public places for 3 weeks after the procedure, and should not take medications that affect blood thinning.
How to prepare for the procedure for men
Sex is excluded, take a shower for 2 days without detergents. Do not urinate before the procedure.
General preparation of the procedure
You should tell your doctor about any medicine that a person has taken in the last 2 months.
How is HPV blood tested?
It is used for PCR diagnostics. From a finger, sometimes from a vein, depending on what analysis one is doing. Mild tingling caused by the injection is the maximum discomfort during the procedure. If the blood vessels in the elbow area are narrow, the process of taking blood will be difficult, but your doctor will tell you how to properly dilate the vein.
The procedure is performed on an empty stomach, not even drinking water. It is advisable to bring a chocolate. All food that causes an allergic reaction should be excluded from the diet 3 days before blood donation.
How is urine tested?
It is better to take care of the sterile bottle yourself. You can buy it at the pharmacy. Collect morning urine on an empty stomach in a bottle. Then take it for testing, preferably immediately, for a maximum duration of 4 hours or the result will be invalid. The method is not as accurate as blood collection, but if blood cannot be donated, you should use this method.
How long does it take to test for HPV in women and men?
If a colposcopic examination has been performed, the result is issued immediately. In the case of a cytological examination, the result will not be ready until one week later. The histology is done for 3 days and then you can get the test result in your hands. With PCR diagnostics, you can get the results immediately or wait up to 2 days.
When and how often should HPV be tested?
Until the age of 30, only those who have clear signs of growth on their body are examined. Usually at this age, HPV is at rest and does not spread throughout the body.
From 30 to 60 years of age, you should go for an examination every 3 years. Immune levels are reduced, so signs of human papillomavirus should be detected in a timely manner.
No studies are usually performed after 60 years. If no virus has been detected in the last two tests, you don’t have to worry. If there have been manifestations, you should participate in treatment until the last 2 results are negative.
Cost and price of shipping HPV tests
In the presence of acute illnesses or cancer, most tests are free. These can be prescribed by the treating oncologist.
For the full picture of virus development, 2 methods are usually used to eliminate the likelihood of false information.
Decoding the results
Decryption should only be performed by your doctor. Patient intervention is not good. To understand what the results are about, pay attention to the following words:
- benchmarks- HPV is missing;
- positive result - oncogenic HPV strain detected;
- the result is negative - no cancers were found, but there is a possibility to find other types of HPV.
If the patient has decided to pick up his or her health and find out about the presence of human papillomavirus in his or her body, he or she should use the above methods. Timely diagnosis saved millions of people and helped them find a calm, healthy life. Quality treatment can only be prescribed after the tests have been thoroughly handed over.
Sometimes the patient is sent for tests without any external signs of the disease, and the procedure shows that there is HPV in the body. In this case, the treatment does not last long. This is why doctors recommend that you seek help in a timely manner.