ECP 2026: Is HPV-Specific Testing Optimized in Throat Cancer?

Cost and turnaround times are a potential challenge to standardization of testing and optimization of patient pathways

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A survey of UK and Ireland head and neck pathologists revealed limited in-house access to HPV-specific testing for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
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While 91% of respondents had access to HPV-specific testing, only 25% had it available in-house, leading to longer turnaround times.
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The median turnaround time for HPV-specific testing was reported as 14 days, compared to 2 days for P16 immunohistochemistry.
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Most pathologists requested HPV-specific testing based on clinical suspicion, with 36% reporting this practice.
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Pathologists indicated that HPV-specific testing improves diagnostic accuracy, but cost and turnaround times are significant barriers.

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