Today, more than 100 strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) are known to medicine. Some strains can lead to the development of such serious pathologies as precancerous and cancerous diseases of the cervix, cancer of the male genital organs, cancer of the pharynx and rectum.
In the prevention of these diseases, the timely diagnosis of HPV plays a major role. The most common way to detect HPV is the quant 21 assay.
Содержание:
Quantum-21 analysis: what is it?
Kvant-21 is a quantitative and qualitative study of biomaterial for papillomavirus. Based on the results of the study, it is determined which HPV strains are present in the body, as well as the degree of viral load (virus concentration). The analysis shows the oncogenicity of the identified strains of papillomavirus – low or high.
Advantages and disadvantages
Quantum-21 is widely used in the diagnosis of HPV.
Advantages of the method:
- high accuracy – the reliability of the analysis results reaches 100%;
- speed of diagnosis – the patient learns the results of the analysis on the day of delivery of the biomaterial;
- data on the concentration of the virus – allows you to assess the infectious load and the degree of influence of the virus on the patient’s immunity;
- analysis allows you to identify the stage of infection with the virus and select individual tactics of therapy.
Differences between HPV Quantum-21 and Quantum-15
The word “quantum” in the title of the study means a number. So, quantum-21 reveals 21 types of papillomavirus, quantum-15 reveals only 15 types.
Kvant-21 examines a biomaterial sample for the presence of strains: 6, 11, 16, 18, 26, 31, 33, 35, 39, 44, 45, 51, 52 , 53 , 56 , 58 , 59 , 66 , 68 , 73 , 82. Only types 11 and 44 belong to strains of low oncogenicity, the remaining types have high oncogenicity.
Quantum-15 detects the presence of 15 HPV strains: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68. Only 6 and 11 strains do not belong to the types of high oncogenic risk.
Preparation for analysis
The accuracy of the results depends not only on the qualifications of medical workers, but also on the correct preparation of the patient for the delivery of material for research.
The analysis should be taken during the period when new condylomas and papillomas appear on the body – this way the opportunity to get the most reliable results increases.
Preparation rules:
- 3 weeks before the proposed analysis, stop taking antibiotics, antiviral and other drugs. These medicines affect the state of the microflora of the genital organs and can distort the test results.
- 3 days before the biomaterial sampling, exclude sexual intercourse, including with the use of a condom.
- A day before going to the doctor, stop the use of vaginal contraceptives, therapeutic tampons and ointments.
- Before testing, do not wash with intimate hygiene products and antibacterial soap, do not take baths, and exclude douching.
- Do not empty your bladder 2-3 hours before the procedure – urine has an antibacterial effect and may affect the results of the study.
It is not recommended to give up alcohol and cigarettes (with systematic use) and switch to strict proper nutrition before taking the analysis. Temporary changes in lifestyle reduce the reliability of the study.
Some doctors, on the contrary, advise the patient to drink some alcohol some time before the test and include salty foods (smoked meats, sausages, beer snacks) in the diet to weaken local immunity.
Immediately after infection, the results of the analysis for papillomavirus will be negative. The study can be carried out no earlier than 3-4 weeks after the expected date of infection. See also material on the topic: HPV type 16, quantitative analysis, decoding .
Material taking technology
For analysis, a sample of epithelial cells is taken from the walls of the cervix, cervical canal or urethra. In women, the biomaterial is taken by a gynecologist, in men – by a urologist.
In the process of taking the material and the day after the procedure, the patient may experience slight pain. If the pain continues for several days, you should consult a doctor.
Urethra
Before removing the sample for research, the entrance to the urethra is disinfected and cleaned in the presence of purulent discharge. A sterile probe with bristles at the end is carefully inserted into the urethral cavity and the epithelium layer is removed. The resulting material is transferred to a glass slide and transferred to the laboratory.
cervical canal
Using a cotton swab, the surface of the vagina and cervix is cleaned of mucus and secretions, treated with saline.
An applicator with bristles at the end is inserted into the vagina and a small amount of epithelial cells are scraped off. The sample is immediately sent for testing.
Cervix
The algorithm for taking a sample for testing for HPV from the cervix does not differ from the method of taking biomaterial from the walls of the cervical canal. The main thing is to thoroughly clean the surface of the cervix from secretions.
Deciphering the results of the study
Reference! The form with the results of the study is a table that lists all types of HPV virus, determined by the analysis of quantum-21, and their concentration in case of detection.
Deciphering the results:
- Less than 3 Lg samples – non-significant HPV load. The risk of atypical and cancerous cells is zero.
- 3 to 5 Lg samples is a significant HPV load. The presence of atypical epithelial cells or an increased risk of their occurrence.
- More than 5 Lg samples – highly significant HPV load. High risk of cancer cells.
If the results of the analysis failed to identify the DNA of the virus, this does not mean that the person is not infected. A few weeks after infection, the presence of the virus cannot be determined, so the study should be repeated after a while.
Quantum-21 analysis is a quick way to detect the presence of HPV in the body, determine the viral load and the likelihood of a cancerous tumor. The analysis is characterized by high accuracy, but only if the patient complies with all the rules of preparation. Otherwise, the results of the study will not show a real picture, and the prescribed treatment will be ineffective.
