Media Release - 08/09/11 Canterbury Health Laboratories (CHL)
Microbiology is trialling a new testing method for identifying
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections that may lead to the
development of cervical cancer. The current method used by
laboratories nationally involves looking for the presence of HPV
in a sample, as part of a routine cervical smear for women aged
over 30 years. The Medical Laboratory Scientist leading this
evaluation project, Dr Rachel Lyman, says while this method
looks for the HPV virus, it is unable to identify those patients
who are more likely to progress on to develop CHL is currently
evaluating a new method looking at an indicator for progression
to cancer rather than the presence of the virus. “We are testing
500 samples for HPV by both testing methods – which is how we
are working to evaluate the effectiveness and potential of this
new method,” Dr Lyman says. She says the new method being
evaluated does have the potential to alleviate unnecessary
psychological distress caused t