Monitoring human papillomavirus prevalence among young Australian women undergoing routine chlamydia screening

Abstract

Introduction: Australia has recently implemented major changes in cervical cancer prevention policies including introduction of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) screening starting at age 25, and replacement of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine with the nonavalent vaccine in the national school-based program. We assessed the feasibility and utility of conducting HPV testing in residual clinical specimens submitted for routine Chlamydia trachomatis screening, as a means of tracking HPV vaccine program impact among young sexually active women. Methods: De-identified residual specimens from women aged 16–24 years submitted for chlamydia testing were collected from three pathology laboratories in Vi..