Simultaneous detection by consensus multiplex PCR of high- and low-risk and other types of human papilloma virus in clinical samples.

A consensus multiplex PCR (CM-PCR) technique was developed to detect high-risk (HPV 16/18), low-risk (HPV 6/11), and over 40 other types of human papillomavirus (HPV), separately but simultaneously, by mixing three pairs of consensus primers in the same PCR mixture, for gene amplification. Simultaneous detection of three groups of HPV DNA provides valuable information for clinical practice and this procedure is simple and convenient for routine laboratory examinations. We detected HPV DNA sequences in plasmid HPV DNA and DNA extracted from tissues of condyloma acuminata and cervical carcinoma and from exfoliated cells of the lower genital tract of healthy Chinese women living in the People's Republic of China. We confirmed that this simple, convenient, and cost-beneficial CM-PCR technique is reliable for the detection of HPV DNA sequences.