How do I get to know my HPV strain?

Question

I got tested and it came back positive for the high risk type. My doctor couldn't tell me which number it is though.

Answer 1

There is a test that can be done by your doctor to determine the specific kind or kinds of HPV you have.

It is VERY expensive (over $1000) and most insurances will not cover it. I've personally ask my doctor about this and she told me to not even bother with it (unless you are willing to dish out over $1000 for it).

As long as you are on top of your yearly pap smears, or more frequently if you have had an abnormal pap smear, you should be just fine. Pap smears are the best thing woman can get to detect any abnormalities on the cervix which can be caused by HPV.

Take care!

Answer 2

At this time there is no FDA approved HPV test that will tell us what specific HPV types we carry.

For now HPV type testing is mostly available through research.

Roche has asked the FDA for approval of a test that will allow us to know what HPV types we carry.


The hc2 High-Risk HPV DNA Test™ (DNAwithPap™)* using Hybrid
Capture® 2 (hc2) technology is an In Vitro nucleic acid hybridization
assay with signal amplification using microplate chemiluminescence for
the qualitative detection of thirteen high-risk types of human
papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in cervical specimens. The HPV types
detected by the assay are the high-risk HPV types
16/18/31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/68. The hc2 High-Risk HPV DNA
Test cannot determine the specific HPV type present.

www.digene.com

Answer 3

It doesn't really matter which strain it is; high risk is high risk.
Get a new PAP every 4-6 months until you get 3 negative tests in a row and then you can go back to yearly.

Answer 4

Thats strange? go see another doctor and tell them exactly what you just said. And they should help.