The SBMU NRITLD VRC Selected as the First Referral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Lab at the National Level
The laboratory of the SBMU NRITLD (National Research Institute for Tuberculosis & Lung Diseases) Virology Research Center (VRC) has been selected as the first referral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Laboratory at the national level. The selection has been done by the Referral Laboratory of the Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education (MHTME).
While noting to the first history of performing HPV tests in 2008, Professor Seyed Alireza Nadji, the director of the SBMU NRITLD VRC said: “Though the HPV is the main cause of numerous cancers including cancers of airway passages, lung, breast, and more important than them, the sexual and dermatological warts; it has not been listed among the infections under care coverage of the Ministry of Health. Therefore, the SBMU NRITLD VRC suggested the establishment of the referral lab at the same year, which was approved at the time.”
He further added: “Since 2009, and in line with the establishment of the HPV International Network offered by the WHO, and the correspondences of the WHO with the MHTME in evaluating the condition and screening of HPV in Iran, the outlook toward the HPV which had to be covered by the MHTME became more serious, so the referral lab for HPV was established and finally our lab was appointed to begin HPV diagnosis.”
Professor Nadji also continued: “At that time, the MHTME Cancer Office offered the national screening as well as determining the HPV genotypes in Iran, and with more visits paid by the Referral Health Lab, it was decided to select our lab, and the Virology Lab of the School of Health of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (as the collaborating body) to initiate the molecular section of the project, and the Pathology Department of the Comprehensive Female Hospital was chosen for performing Pop Smear Test and Thin Prep Test.”
He also noted that: “In this project, 5500 HPV samples were extracted from females of 11 provinces in Iran which was completed six months ago and its results are accessible at the MHTME Cancer Office.”
“The lab”, he said, “has participated in the Efficiency International Tests which have been presented by the HPV International Network.”
As for the tasks of the first HPV lab at the national level, Professor Nadji explained: “The HPV International Network has invented a specific method for genotyping the HPV, and we have to follow them so our results would be in line with the WHO standards.”
The director of the SBMU NRITLD VRC considered the planning for using HPV vaccine as a must and said: “Decision making about whether or not to use the vaccine, the method of usage, the time of usage, etc. are all among the other tasks put forth by the SBMU NRITLD VRC.”
He finally said that the serologic tests for identifying the HPV antibody have been performed which can be very crucial in sero-epidemiological studies; and the WHO is willing to reach the standards of the HPV vaccine; therefore, the SBMU NRITLD VRC Lab has to be active in the field as well.