Detection of HPV-16 DNA in cervical carcinoma by paraffin section in situ hybridization.

Thirty-eight cervical carcinomas and 1 cervical condyloma were examined for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 DNA using 3H-dCTP-labelled HPV-16 DNA probe in paraffin section in situ hybridization and 32P-dCTP-labelled probe in dot blot hybridization (Tm-17). The results showed an HPV-16 DNA positive rate in our series of about 74.4% (29/39) as determined by paraffin section in situ hybridization and about 71.8% (28/29) by dot blot hybridization. There was no significant difference between the two methods. We thus confirmed that paraffin section in situ hybridization is an informative, reliable, and sensitive method for the diagnosis of cervical HPV infection.