Development and validation of a multiplex qPCR assay for detection and relative quantification of HPV16 and HPV18 E6 and E7 oncogenes

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) play a key role in promoting human anogenital cancers. Current high-risk HPV screening or diagnosis tests involve cytological or molecular techniques mostly based on qualitative HPV DNA detection. Here, we describe the development of a rapid quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection test of HPV16 and HPV18 oncogenes (E6 and E7) normalized on human gene encoding GAPDH. Optimized qPCR parameters were defined, and analytical specificities were validated. The limit of detection was 101 for all genes tested. Assay performances were evaluated on clinical samples (n = 96). Concordance between the Xpert HPV assay and the triplex assay developed here was 93.44% for HPV16 and 73.58% for HPV18. HPV co-infections were detected in 15 samples. The systems developed in the present study can be used in complement to traditional HPV tests for specifically validating the presence of HPV16 and/or HPV18. It can also be used for the follow-up of patients with confirmed infection and at risk of developing lesions, through the quantification of E6 and E7 oncogene expression (mRNA) normalized on the GAPDH expression levels.