HPV Screening and Follow-up Protocol

The follow-up plan is determined by the analysis results (Fig. 1). If antibodies to HPV16-L1 and/or HR-HPV DNA are detected in baseline samples, the participant will be contacted within 7–14 days by phone or, if unreachable, personally notified by a community health worker, in order to plan the physical examination at the patient’s earliest convenience (either at the next CTC appointment or at an extra visit). Independently from these results and any further treatment (LEEP or thermal ablation), participants who have antibodies to HPV16-L1 and/or HR-HPV detected at baseline will be asked to repeat cervico-vaginal swab collection for Anyplex™ II HPV28 Detection and QG-MPH after 6 months. If baseline samples are negative for HR-HPV and for antibodies to HPV16-L1, re-screening will be recommended after 12 months according to the NACP guidelines.