Prevalence of High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection in China: Analysis of 671,163 Human Papillomavirus Test Results From China's Largest College of American Pathologists-Certified Laboratory.

Objectives: This study on human papillomavirus (HPV) testing in China's largest independent laboratory accredited by the international Laboratory Accreditation Program of the College of American Pathologists extends previous reports on cervical screening test results from this Chinese facility.

Methods: A retrospective laboratory database search from 2007 to 2014 documented high-risk HPV test results using either Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2; Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) or multiplex polymerase chain reaction fluorescence testing (MPFT) methods.

Results: During the study period, HPV testing steadily increased, with 643,702 HC2 and 27,641 MPFT HPV tests performed. The mean ages of the tested women were 35.0 years using HC2 and 38.3 years using MPFT. The HC2 HPV-positive rate was 21.7%, significantly higher than 15.7% with MPFT (P < .0001), with bimodal peak incidence in adolescents and women aged 60 to 69 years.

Conclusions: Use of HPV testing in cervical screening is increasing in China. HC2 HPV-positive rates around 20% in all age groups from more than 500,000 tested Chinese women are consistent with previous reports from China and significantly higher than published HC2 HPV-positive rates in populations with more widespread cervical screening. MPFT HPV-positive rates were slightly lower in every age group. The high HPV-positive rate likely reflects limited routine cervical screening and high cervical cancer incidence in China.