Comparison of smear specimens with biopsy specimens in a nucleic acid hybridization test for human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.

A total of 323 pairs of specimens from women with Papanicolaou class II or III cytology were examined for human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18 by spot hybridization. Each pair consisted of a representative biopsy specimen and a smear specimen from cervical, vaginal or, more rarely, vulvar lesions. We found a close correlation between HPV findings in biopsies and smears.