WHO HPV LabNet - Newsletter 03

Overview

This newsletter aims to provide brief and updated information about the WHO HPV LabNet activities. It will be produced on a 6 monthly basis, this being the third issue.

The two main areas of priority for WHO HPV LabNet in 2008 were Capacity Building and Standardization of assays for HPV DNA and serology. In addressing these:

• The HPV Global Reference Laboratory in Sweden has led a 2nd proficiency study for HPV DNA genotyping and a collaborative study on HPV16 serology (direct VLP-ELISA) (see Section 3).
• The HPV Regional Reference Laboratory in Switzerland is currently evaluating results/feedback from a recent technology transfer of a non-commercial HPV genotyping assay (general PGMY primer PCR with genotyping by reverse hybridization) in the HPV LabNet, to be reported in the 4th edition of this newsletter.

These studies aimed at ensuring all HPV LabNet Regional laboratories are capable of performing HPV DNA genotyping and serology testing. This included evaluating and improving suggested standard operating procedures (SOPs) following assay experience, to help in development of an HPV Laboratory Manual.

• The National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC), as a WHO International Laboratory for Biological Standards, have been extensively engaged in developing International Standards (IS) and reference reagents for use in assays for detecting either HPV DNA or HPV antibodies (see Section 4).