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 Over 50 million Pap smears are performed in the U.S. annually to test for human papilloma virus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer. In Analytical Chemistry, researchers report a method to increase the test accuracy, and reduce false negatives and false positives.
The method eliminates the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify sample DNA. PCR developers won a Nobel Prize for the technique, but it adds the possibility that contaminants will be amplified along with the desired DNA. The new method uses single-molecule spectroscopy, which can be integrated into the Pap smear method, as possibly in screening tests for hepatitis B, herpes, and other diseases. Can you think of other uses?
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