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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor may be able to diagnose HPV infection after visual inspection of any warts or lesions.
If genital warts aren't visible, you may need one or more of the following tests:
- Vinegar (acetic acid) solution test. Your doctor may apply a vinegar solution that turns HPV-infected genital areas white. This may help in identifying difficult-to-see flat lesions.
- Pap test. Your doctor collects a sample of cells from your cervix or vagina to send for laboratory analysis. Pap tests can reveal abnormalities that may lead to cancer.
- DNA test. This test can recognize the DNA of the high-risk varieties of HPV that have been linked to genital cancers. The test is conducted on a sample of cells taken from your cervix.
References
- HPV (Human papillomavirus). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/byaudience/forwomen/ucm118530.htm. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Castle PE. The life cycle, natural history, and immunology of human papillomaviruses. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Genital HPV infection: Fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=740. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191371208-2/0/1492/0.html#. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Reichman R. Epidemiology of human papillomavirus infections. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Palefsky JM, et al. Virology of human papillomavirus infections and the link to cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 28, 2012.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Recommendations on the use of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in males - Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2011:60;1705.
- Salicylic acid. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Nov. 29, 2012.
- Imiquimod. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Nov. 29, 2012.
- Podofilox. Micromedex Healthcare Series. http://www.micromedex.com. Accessed Nov. 29, 2012.
- Mulhem E, et al. Treatment of nongenital cutaneous warts. American Family Physician. 2011;84:288.
- Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 3, 2012.
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