HPV dna test

I had a pap a year ago when i was 29.  came back normal.  went this year for a routine check up at my local planned parenthood, got a pap and they suggested an HPV dna test since i'm 30 now.  i'm still waiting for results.  my question is, what kinds of HPV does the dna test test for?  just the kind that can cause cancer or all strains? i know there are over a 100 strains.  just wondering.  thanks all!

-anxiously waiting

[Hollyv]

The new guidelines for Paps in 2009 said that women needed to start Paps at 21, and then every 2 years after. So, if you had a normal Pap last year you did not need another one. You really don't need an HPV test if your Pap is normal. There are 2 on the market in the US and they both test for High Risk only (the ones that cause cancer in the cervix--but remember cervical cancer is very rare, even if you did test positive), the most commonly used one tests for 13 HPV's--all high risk. They are 16,18,31,33,35,39,45,51,52,56,58,59 and 68. The test will not tell you which one you are positive for, it will only state positive for 1 of 13. It is not always 100% accurate but if you test positive they will want to do further testing. Since you are 30, if both your Pap and HPV test are negative you do not need a Pap for 3 years. You need to figure out your risk, if you have multiple partners you may want to be tested before 3 years but otherwise that is the recommendation.        

[Coromandel1980]

thank you, that was very helpful!