Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the value of immunocytochemical (ICC) staining for human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein (E7-ICC staining) as a new-generation immunological method in the cytological diagnosis of cervical lesions. METHODS: The exfoliated cervical cell samples of 690 women were subjected to a liquid-based cytology test (LCT), high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) test, E7-ICC staining, and cervical biopsy for pathological diagnosis. RESULTS: E7-ICC staining as a preliminary screening scheme for cervical precancerous lesions was comparable to the HR-HPV test in sensitivity and to the LCT in specificity. E7-ICC staining was advantageous in facilitating the secondary triage of HR-HPV-positive patients; therefore, this method can be used as an auxiliary scheme to routine LCT for diagnostic grading to improve the accuracy of cervical cytology. CONCLUSION: E7-ICC staining as a primary or auxiliary cytological screening scheme can effectively reduce the colposcopy referral rate.