Objective: We analyzed the results of a three-year analysis of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests performed on servical swabs in our laboratory.

Methods: High-risk(HR) HPV-DNA in cervical swabs from patients (18–85 years) were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR), using Abbott RealTime High Risk HPV (Abbott, Wiesbaden, Germany) and Cobas HPV test (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, USA) kits between January 2019 and December 2021. Qualitative results were reported for HPV16, 18 and other HR-HPV (HPV31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66 and 68) genotypes. Results were analyzed according to the age groups of the patients (<25, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–65, >65).

Results: The HPV-DNA positivity rate was 18.6% (1231/6609). The mean age of HPV-DNA positive patients (40.9±10.8 range:18–76 years) was lower than that of negative patients (43.2±9.8, range:19–85 years) (p<0.001). Positivity rates for HPV16, 18 and other HR-HPV were 3.3%, 0.7% and 11.9%, respectively. The positivity rate for multiple HPV was 2.5% (169/6609). The ratios between positives were 17.7%, 4.2%, 64.2% and 13.7% for HPV16, 18, other HR-HPV and multiple HPV genotypes, respectively (p<0.001). HPV-DNA positivity rates were found to be 40.9% and 27.2% for <25 and 25–29 years old. HPV-DNA positivity rate decreases with age (r2=-0.08, p=0.01) and peaks between 30–34 and 60–65 years of age (21.9% and 18.8%, p<0.001).

Conclusion: In our study group, HPV-DNA positivity rate was 18.6%. HPV-DNA positivity rates are elevated in young and older age groups. Screening programs applied to susceptible populations other than vaccination programs may enable cervical cancer control, early diagnosis and treatment.