[Detection of papilloma virus in the cervix of the human uterus by in situ hybridization--Comparative study of detection rate by Southern blot method].

Cases found to be positive for human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in the cervix by Southern blot method were evaluated with a newly developed kit for in situ HPV tissue hybridization. By the in situ hybridization method, HPV-DNA was detected without damaging the tissue structure. It appeared as purple or black stains in the nucleus of the epithelial cells that were located at the level of one-third of the epithelial thickness from the surface. The cases that were negative with the Southern blot method were also negative with the in situ hybridization method, but only 55.8% of the cases positive with the Southern blot method were positive with the in situ hybridization. Although in situ hybridization method is not as sensitive as the Southern blot method, it allows analysis of old paraffin blocks and comparison with pathological features.