A simple urine test for the virus that causes cervical cancer could offer a less invasive and more acceptable alternative to the conventional cervical smear test, researchers said on September 16.
In a study comparing the accuracy of urine sample testing with smear testing conducted by a doctor, scientists from Britain and Spain found the results were good and said using the urine test to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) could lead to more women agreeing to be screened.
"The detection of HPV in urine is non-invasive, easily accessible and acceptable to women, and a test with these qualities could considerably increase uptake," the researchers said on September 16 in thebmj.com, the online version of the British Medical Journal.
The study, which analysed 14 studies involving 1,443 sexually active women, was led by Neha Pathak of the women's health research unit at Queen Mary University of London.
Compared with cervical smear samples, urine HPV testing had an overall sensitivity - the proportion of positives correctly identified - of 87 percent, and a specificity - the proportion of negatives correctly identified - of 94 percent.
Urine testing for the particularly high risk strains of HPV that cause the majority of cervical cancer cases, had an overall sensitivity of 73 percent and a specificity of 98 percent compared with cervical samples.
HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, with up to 80 percent of sexually active women infected at some point in their lives.
Infection with specific high risk strains of HPV can cause cervical cancer, which kills around 266,000 women a year globally, according to the World Health Organisation.
By the far the vast majority of cervical cancer deaths are in poorer countries where access to screening and prevention methods is less widely available.
In a smear test, an instrument called a speculum is inserted into the vagina to allow access to the cervix and a brush is used to collect cells from the surface of the cervix. In wealthier developed countries, cervical screening for HPV has been in place for many years and have been able to catch many potential cancer cases before they develop.
More recently, national immunisation programmes using vaccines from drugmakers Merck and GlaxoSmithKline have been launched to protect girls from HPV.
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