Overview

The human papillomavirus (HPV) test detects the presence of human papillomavirus, a virus that can lead to the development of genital warts, abnormal cervical cells or cervical cancer.

Your doctor may likely recommend the HPV test if:

• Your Pap test was abnormal, showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS)
• You're age 30 or older

The HPV test is available only to women; no HPV test yet exists to detect the virus in men. However, men can be infected with HPV and pass the virus to their sex partners.