Significance of the test:
Clinical significance of the test:
Tests are performed to deepen the diagnosis for precancerous lesions and cervical cancer when the cytological result is abnormal or inconclusive.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in the world.
In Poland, about 3,500 cases are diagnosed each year, of which half of the patients die due to late diagnosis. One of the main causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus HPV ( Human Papillomavirus ). Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that develops from the epithelium covering the cervix or cervical canal. To date, about 200 types of the virus have been isolated, however only some of them, are sexually transmitted and are associated with high-grade dysplasia and cervical cancer. Due to their varying oncogenic potential, a distinction is made between high-risk (HR) HPV viruses - HPV 16, HPV 18, HPV 31, HPV 33 and HPV 45, which are associated with more than 80 percent of precancerous cervical cancer lesions, and low-risk (LR) viruses - HPV 6 and HPV 11, which are associated with benign lower-grade intraepithelial lesions or the development of condylomas.
During acute infection with high-risk HPV, viral genes are expressed in mature epithelial cells and their cell cycle is disrupted. Uncontrolled proliferation (proliferation) of cells occurs, reflected by the production of p16 and ki 67 proteins called biomarkers of infection.
P16 protein is a protein that plays a major role in cell cycle control, and Ki-67 protein is a cell proliferation protein.
The CINtec plus test detects both of these proteins, making it possible to detect cancerous lesions at the cellular level at a very early stage of their development.The test is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity.
The p16/Ki-67 test in combination with cytological examination, and HPV testing is important in making the most accurate diagnosis and interpretation of difficult cases such as ASCUS, LSIL, ASC-H or adenomatous lesions.
The most complete, reliable and sensitive method of testing for cervical cancer is liquid cytology ( LBC cytology) supplemented with HPV testing and CINtec plus.
The combination of these three diagnostic tests is particularly important when an abnormal or difficult-to-interpret cytology result is obtained.

Preparation and preparation of material:
Material to be examined: cervical smear ( LBC liquid cytology)