A real-time PCR approach based on SPF10 primers and the INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping Extra assay for the detection and typing of human papillomavirus.

The SPF10 PCR targets a conserved 65bp region of the HPV L1 gene for broad-spectrum amplification. The LiPA assay allows subsequent genotyping of the HPV amplicons. This study aims to develop a SPF10 real-time PCR to achieve simultaneous amplification and detection of the HPV target. That way, LiPA analysis of the HPV-negative samples can be avoided, reducing workload and cost. The real-time PCR shows an analytical sensitivity of 29.7 copies for HPV 6, 16, 18 and 31 and an HPV-specific melting peak. Thirty-one HPV DNA plasmids were genotyped correctly using the SPF10 real-time PCR in combination with the LiPA. Here, the LiPA assay was performed at an increased hybridisation temperature (49.5°C) in combination with a reduced amplicon volume (1μl) to avoid cross-reactivity. In conclusion, the SPF10 real-time PCR proves to be very sensitive and generates amplicons, which are compatible with the LiPA.