Benefits and Costs of Using HPV Testing to Screen for Cervical Cancer

Abstract

The incidence of and mortality from cervical cancer have declined substantially in the United States over the last 4 decades.¹ These trends are largely attributed to the success of widespread Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening programs. About 50 million Pap smears are performed annually in the United States.² Unfortunately, despite implementation of widespread quality assurance standards, Pap test characteristics remain less than optimal, with 25% to 50% false-negative rates.^3-5