- September 23, 2026
Risk Factors for Human Papillomavirus Positivity in a Tertiary Care Center: A Case–Control Study Incorporating Genotype Distribution, Co-Infection Patterns, and Quantitative Viral Load Analysis.
Mete Hakan Karalök, Bağnu Dündar, Ayhan Parmaksız and Asiye Gök Yurttaş | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Atlas University, Istanbul 34408, Türkiye; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Atlas University, Istanbul 34408, Türkiye; Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul Health and Technology University, Istanbul 34275, Türkiye | 2026 | 10.3390/jcm15166162
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common viral infection and the leading cause of cervical cancer and other anogenital malignancies. In this retrospective case-control study, researchers analysed existing clinical and laboratory data from a tertiary-care centre in Türkiye to investigate predictors of HPV positivity, genotype distribution, co-infection patterns, and relative viral load. A total of 234 patient samples, including cervical, vaginal and penile swabs, were analysed using the Bio-Speedy® GHPV-L Genotyping qPCR Panel, capable of detecting 37 HPV genotypes alongside an internal human control. Nucleic acid amplification and quantitative analysis were performed on the BMS Magnetic Induction Cycler (Mic), with HPV viral load estimated using cycle quantification (Cq) values. The study found that clinical presentation was more strongly associated with HPV positivity than demographic factors such as age, sex and geographic origin. Patients presenting with anogenital or viral warts, and those with vaginal or vulvar inflammation, were significantly more likely to test positive for HPV. The analysis also revealed a high prevalence of co-infection involving multiple HPV genotypes, with HPV-16 identified as the most common high-risk genotype. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated how extended HPV genotyping and quantitative viral load assessment can provide clinically meaningful information beyond a simple positive or negative result, supporting more informed interpretation of HPV diagnostic results in tertiary-care settings.