Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Most sexually active people will contract the HPV virus during their lifetime. Many people do not develop any symptoms but can still infect others. In many cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. However, HPV can cause genital warts and some types of cancer including cervical, anal, vulvar, penile, throat, and esophageal cancers. For women, diagnosis of HPV often starts with abnormal results from a routine Pap test. Therefore, regular Pap tests are essential for detection. Unfortunately, there is no current HPV test recommended for men.
A HPV vaccine that protects against genital warts and certain cancers is available. There are around 100 strains of HPV. Low-risk types of HPV can cause warts, while the high risk types can cause cancers. Remarkably, more than 90% of anal cancers are caused by HPV. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for those aged 11 and older for protection against cervical cancer as well as other cancers that can affect men. An estimated 80 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. The vaccine prevents over 90% of HPV-related cancers and reduces the spread of the STI. Vaccination could lower the chance of getting HPV and may potentially eradicate certain cancers for future generations.
Enzo developed the first non-radioactive HPV probes for
in situ hybridization detection in 1986. We continue to bring forward innovative technologies that provide clinically relevant information to researchers studying human papillomavirus. Enzo offers a selection of
ISH virus detection methods including PATHO-GENE® HPV Detection Assays and Specific Probes and DIGX® HPV Probes and Linkers. Our
FLOWSCRIPT® HPV E6/E7 Assay Kit employs a novel in situ hybridization technique utilizing a cocktail of probes specific to multiple sites within the E6 and E7 genes to ensure the detection of these mRNA transcripts. This homogeneous assay can be performed in less than 3 hours and is specific for the most prevalent high risk HPV genotypes.