Test Details: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is a viral infection that commonly causes skin or mucous membrane growths (warts). Because HPV cannot be propagated in tissue culture, in most cases its accurate identification relies on molecular biology techniques. The only procedure that may be capable of recognizing all HPV types and variants present in a biologic specimen is DNA sequencing of the viral genome. HPV genotyping is important for following up patients with persistent HPV infection and for evaluation of prevention strategy for the individual patients to be immunized with type-specific HPV vaccines.