Cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer of the female reproductive organs i.e., the third most common malignant tumor among women globally. The significance of HPV genotyping, a method used to identify specific HPV genotypes, has been recognized in recent decades as an important tool for the early detection of cervical cancer risk. In recent years, great progress has been made in understanding HPV molecular biology, a large number of tests have been developed, and there is ongoing research on the association between their diagnostic and therapeutic use. In the conducted research, a diagnostic kit manufactured by Sansure Biotech was used for HPV genotyping. This test comprises pairs of specific primers and specific fluorescent probes for genotyping 15 high-risk HPV genotypes (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 53, 56, 58, 59, 66, 68). Out of a total of 41 cervical swabs analyzed, 17 were detected positive for 13 specific high-risk HPV genotypes. HPV 18 and HPV 52 genotypes were not detected in any analyzed sample, while HPV 16 (14%) and HPV 31 (17%) were detected with the highest frequency of occurrence. Although the results were obtained on a small number of samples, they have certainly indicated the importance of the application of the mentioned method for detecting oncogenic HPV variants that suggest an increased risk of cervical cancer in women in HPV screening programs in the wider population.

Numerous commercial tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection have been developed in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Our laboratory uses tests from two manufacturers, 2019-nCoV from Sansure and Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test from Cepheid. Protocols of different manufacturers list different predefined Ct (cycle threshold) values as cut-offs for a positive test. In this study, we focus on additional verification of Ct values for borderline positive samples, to confirm the results obtained. From May to November 2021, 88,708 tests were performed, of which 7,669 were positive and 224 were borderline positive. In retested borderline positive samples, positive results were obtained in 72.3% of the cases. Percentage of negative results upon retesting was 27.7%, which is almost a third of the total number of samples analysed. Based on these results, we can conclude that special attention must be paid when interpreting borderline positive results of RT-PCR tests. In the retesting process, if possible, it is particularly important to use a test with different properties.

Discovery of the causal relationship between the human papilloma virus and cervical cancer formation increased the significance of the real-time PCR in HPV diagnostics. Based on evidence showing that they caused cervical cancer, 14 HPV types have been classified as carcinogenic (HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68). This study analysed cervical smears taken from female patients, aged 19 to 25 years, using the Viasure diagnostic test for the detection of high-risk HPV genotypes and individual identification of HPV genotypes 16 and 18. A total of 110 cervical smears were analysed and 44 positive samples were detected (40%). DNA analysis of the positive samples found the following distribution of the HPV types: 27% HPV (31, 39, 56); 22% HPV (52, 59, 68); 18% HPV16; 13% HPV (33, 45, 51); 12% HPV (35, 58, 66); 8% HPV18. This study and the high positivity rate it found indicate that there is a lack of awareness among the youth on the measures of prevention, as well as a lack of understanding of HPV infection.