, 2010). The importance of this study is threefold: 1) it allows a new series of assays to be used in the clinical setting to detect the more common HPVs that cause genital and anal warts; 2) the assays are both robust and yet inexpensive enough to use globally, and, 3) the tests are designed to use real-time PCR technology, which allows for the rapid identification and quantification of these pathogenic types of HPV. The technology and protocols used in this development will also likely have an effect on the ability to roll out testing for other HPV-like viruses, ostensibly even the HIV virus in a real-time, inexpensive manner. The lab results also suggest that as the at risk population for HPV increases, early testing and intervention might reduce the number of symptomatic individuals since they will have been tested and potentially treated much earlier.

The developing world notwithstanding, HPV is estimated to be the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and most sexually active...

The American Social Health Association estimates that about 80% of sexually active Americans will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime (Learn About HPV, 2011). With a real-time test, greater education and screening, it might be possible to reduce the predicted increase in global deaths from cancers associated with these viruses. If there are upwards of 6 million new cases of HPV in the United States, and over 20 million new cases globally (conservatively), we can see that an inexpensive, highly reliable, and easy to administer and interpret test is a robust contribution to the medical field.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Learn About HPV. (2011). American Social Health Association. Cited in:

http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_learn_men.cfm

Wallboomers, J., et al., (1999). Human papillomavirus is a necessary cause of invasive cervical cancer worldwide. Journal of Pathology. 189 (1): 9-12.