About us

The National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for Papillomaviruses provides clinical diagnosis of anogenital HPV infections based on standard HPV DNA detection in clinical specimens by the DIGENE Hybrid Capture 2 test (Dynex), ROCHE Amplicor (PCR) test and INNOGENETICS (Ascomed) INNOLipa (PCR) test. In addition, NRL performs testing of various specimens by other PCR methods with subsequent typing by reverse hybridization or sequencing. In situ hybridization (digoxigenin labeled probes, DAKO) is used for HPV detection in histological materials.

We screen specimens for the presence of skin papillomaviruses and animal papillomaviruses. The method, which allows detection of even distantly related PV isolates, is used.

NRL also implements and tests methods for serodiagnosis of HPV specific antibodies. Nevertheless, these methods are currently used for research only and are not usable for diagnostic purposes.

PVs are detected in a broad spectrum of clinical specimens (see diagnosis).

NRL evaluates commercial kits for HPV detection, prepares samples for external quality assessment in field laboratories and provides consulting and training services. Every year NRL organizes consulting day for the staff of field laboratories. The NRL members lecture at the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Gynecology of the Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education. NRL has been successfully involved in the international external quality assessment system since 2004.

Research is focused primarily on the study of the role of infection with high-risk types of human papillomaviruses in the development of cervical cancer, malignancies of the anogenital tract in females and males (cancer of the anal and perianal regions, vulvar cancer) and cancer of the head and neck.

A second major research focus is the role of HPV tests, and possibly of other molecular biological markers, in decision making in the management of female patients with suspicious clinical findings and after surgery for cervical precancerosis. Another subject of research is comparison of sensitivity and specificity of methods for papillomavirus detection and typing in clinical practice. Selecting an adequate method is prerequisite for possible implementation of HPV tests into routine screening of patients. NRL collects samples in collaboration with multiple clinical centres and other research laboratories.

In near future, prophylactic HPV vaccines produced by Merck&Co (Gardasil) and by GlaxoSmithKline (Cervarix) will be commercially available. Both vaccines, based on capsids (virus–like particles, VLP), derived from HR HPV types 16 and 18 and in case of Gardasil complemented with VLP6 and 11, are currently in phase III clinical trials. After 5–year follow–up, the efficacy of vaccination in terms of persistent infection and precancerous lesions development, associated with vaccinal genotypes, is almost complete.

With respect to expected preventive HPV vaccination we are currently studying the prevalence of HPV–specific antibodies in large sets of sera from individuals suffering from some of HPV–linked diseases and from healthy people living in the Czech Republic.

Fig.1 Output of sequencing based typing of papillomaviruses



Fig.2 In situ hybridization: detection of papillomaviruses in a cell



Fig.3 Reverse hybridization: papillomavirus detection and typing