Testing for human papillomavirus: basic pathobiology of infection, methodologies, and implications for clinical use.

New molecular biological evidence has recently emerged, strongly implicating the human papillomavirus (HPV) as playing an etiologic role in the development of neoplasias of the genital tract. As technologies advance, the ability to test for the presence of HPV has become simpler, more reliable, and less expensive. A great deal of controversy has arisen regarding the effective and proper utilization of these new tests in the management of HPV infections. This review will detail the new evidence implicating the putative role of HPV in neoplasia and the current methodologies available for assessing the presence of HPV in clinical samples and will describe the current controversy surrounding their utilization.