Performance of mRNA- and DNA-based high-risk human papillomavirus assays in detection of high-grade cervical lesions

Introduction: The aim was to assess the performance of two commercial assays for the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV): Aptima HPV Assay (Hologic, Inc., Marlborough, MA, USA) which detects mRNA of 14 different hrHPV types, and Hybrid Capture 2 HPV DNA test (HC2; Qiagen, Gaithersburg, MD, USA), which detects the DNA of 13 different hrHPV types. Test performance was compared in the settings of a standard colposcopy clinic, among the regular patient flow. Material and methods: Two separate cervical cell samples for Aptima and HC2 testing were collected from women referred to colposcopy or a cervical follow-up visit. Altogether, 481 paired samples were analyzed and all positive samples were also tested using the Aptima HPV 16 18/45 Genotype Assay. Results from the two assays were compared directly and with stratification by histology and cytology from the same sampling visit. Results: The overall agreement between HC2 and Aptima assays was 92.9% (Kappa coefficient of 0.855). The sensitivity and specificity of the assays in detecting CIN2+ were 92.5 and 58.2% for HC2, and 94.0 and 59.3% for Aptima, respectively. No significant differences between the assays were found (p-values >0.5). Both assays detected all CIN3 (n = 30) and carcinoma (n = 2) cases. Conclusions: The mRNA-based Aptima assay and the extensively studied DNA-based HC2 test performed equally well in detecting high-grade cervical lesions. Our data contribute to the growing evidence base indicating that the mRNA-based Aptima assay could be used for the triage of patients with HPV-associated cervical disease