Hpv or human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that affects a number of people. This infection can cause problems like warts including genital warts and other serious conditions like cervical cancers. Hpv test is used to check the genetic material or DNA of the hpv virus. In many cases the hpv condition may not cause any symptoms while in others some symptoms may be observed.

A Pap smear test may be used and in this test cells from the cervical region are collected. Changes in the cells within the cervix help to determine the existence of hpv. Hpv testing involving a Pap smear test cannot be used on men. For diagnosis of this infection in men visual examination of genital warts may be done.

If abnormal changes are observed in a Pap smear test it may be an indication of high risk hpv infection. In such a case a follow up testing with the help of DNA HPV test may be conducted. Those women that are sexually active particularly with multiple partners may need to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases such as hpv through hpv test.

Men indulging in sex with men are also a part of a high risk category and so should undergo hpv testing. Among such men the anal lining may be swabbed for cells and these may be examined under the microscope. Typically the type 6 and 11 hpv viruses are responsible for causing venereal warts while those like 16, 18, 31, 33 and 39 put a person at a greater risk of suffering from cancer.

In some cases of hpv test positive results may be followed with a biopsy of the tissue samples. Other tests like colposcopy may also be conducted to identify possible precancerous changes. The kind of test ordered will be based on the medical history of the person along with results of the hpv test. In some cases an hpv test may be positive but the concerned individual may not have the infection. This is known as a false positive result. In such a case a repeat testing may be required.