[Question #11362] antibody test
15 months ago
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Is there a reliable blood test one can take to find out what type of hpv they had in the past? I have read about them being used in clinical trials.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
15 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your confidence in our services.
As you have found, blood tests for antibody to HPV -- indicating past infection -- have been used for research for many years. To my knowledge, the US Food and Drug Administration has not approved such tests for clinical use, and I believe that is the case for many of most other countries' counterparts to the FDA. However, from comments on this forum, it appears that some labs offer such tests. But even if you can find such a resources, I would advise against such testing, or at least be prepared to treat the results with great caution. Having not gone through the standard process to determine test performance and reliability, either a positive or negative result might be unreliable. In principle, a positive result does not necessarily mean an ongoing, transmissible HPV infection with that type; and probably a negative result does prove for certain that infection with that type never was present. That such tests are used in clinical trials or other research doesn't necessarily mean they meet the performance standards required for approval for diagnostic purposes.
This could change, of course. For all I know, such tests may be under development or even under consideration by FDA and similar agencies. But until approved and widely available, do be cautious in interpreting any results you may receive.
I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.
HHH, MD
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15 months ago
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Thank you so much for your response! Do you know how to find one of these labs by any chance? Also, do you know if it is possible to find out if one had the vaccine? Thank you again
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
15 months ago
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You can try googling "HPV antibody test" and see what comes up, but I have no particular recommendations.
Depending on when you might have been vaccinated and your age at the time, your parents may have information; or contact the offices of the doctor(s) you saw either in childhood or in more recent years. Or you might be able to get information from your health insurer at those times. If you aren't successful in finding out, you can be revaccinated: there is no harm in that, and if previously vaccinated it may even be beneficial to experience a booster effect.
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