Is human papillomavirus 16 and 18 infection absent in urinary bladder carcinomas?
No positive signals for HPV 16 or 18 were detected in any of the bladder carcinoma samples. Given the sensitivity of the technique, the result indicates that HPV 16 and 18 are not implicated in the development of bladder neoplasia compared to certain other epithelial malignancies. The possibility that other subtypes of HPV contribute to bladder epithelial carcinogenesis remains to be clarified.
Laboratory technicians in routine settings can be trained to use FM which is more sensitive than ZN microscopy. Despite rigorous proficiency testing, there were operator-dependent accuracy issues which highlight the critical need for intensive quality assurance procedures during LED FM implementation. The low sensitivity of FM for HIV-positive individuals particularly those with low CD4 T cell counts, will limit the number of additional patients found by LED FM in countries with high rates of HIV co-infection.