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IARC 60th Anniversary - 19-21 May 2026

Session : 21/05/26 - Posters

Human papillomavirus detection in liquid-based cytology and cervical histology samples among women living with HIV in Zambia

TAGHAVI K. 1,2, FERNANDEZ VILLALOBOSA N. 2, MOONO M. 3, GLASS A. 4, ANDOH J. 2, BASU P. 1, MADLIWA T. 4, MWANAHAMUNTU M. 5, LOW N. 2, MANASYAN A. 3,6, ROHNER E. 2

1 Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, IARC/WHO, LYON, France; 2 Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, , Switzerland; 3 Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka , Zambia; 4 Lancet Laboratories, Johannesburg, South Africa; 5 Women and Newborn Department, University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia; 6 University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Background: Cervicovaginal human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence is high among women living with HIV (WLWH) and transient infections in liquid-based cytology (LBC) samples are frequent. HPV testing on cervical histology samples may help identify persistent genotypes.

Objectives: To explore HPV genotype agreement in paired LBC and histology samples among WLWH in Zambia.

Methods: We included WLWH aged 18-65 years who participated in a cervical cancer screening test accuracy study and returned for follow-up after 30-36 months. We obtained LBC samples and ≥2 cervical biopsies, which were formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded, from all participants. Both samples were tested for 28 HPV genotypes (Anyplex II HPV28, Seegene, Seoul). We calculated HPV genotype prevalence and used Cohen's kappa to assess agreement beyond chance between HPV detection on LBC and histology.

Results: From April 2022 to May 2023, 242 WLWH (220 < cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 [CIN2], 22 CIN2+) had valid paired HPV results. Prevalence of any high-risk HPV (hrHPV) was 39% on LBC and 34% histology. Multiple-type infections were more common in LBC (19%) than histology samples (10%). HPV-16 was the most frequent genotype: 9% (n=22) on LBC, 15% (n=36) on histology. Overall agreement beyond chance for any hrHPV was 66.1% (Kappa=0.27, 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.40).

Conclusions: In this cohort of screened WLWH with mostly  

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HPV prevalence in liquid-based cytology (LBC) and histology samples