Detection of human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in the exfoliated cervical cells using the polymerase chain reaction.

We applied the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HPV 16 and 18 in cytological samples obtained from the uterine cervices of Japanese women. HPV infection was detected in 17 (25%) of 67 with CIN and 11 (37%) of 30 with cervical carcinoma. It is notable that 11 (16%) of 69 women with normal cervices were infected with either HPV 16 or 18. The polymerase chain reaction is sensitive and useful for epidemiological studies.