RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate fluorescence in situ hybridization labeled with quantum dots (QDs) for the detection of human papillomavirus 16/18 (HPV16/18) infection in cervical carcinoma patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 biopsy samples of squamous carcinoma of cervix were assayed for HPV 16/18 infection by using quantum dot labeled fluorescent in situ hybridization (QD-FISH) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) techniques, respectively. The results obtained by using two different methods were statistically analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate for HPV16/18 by QD-FISH was 88.8% (71/80), higher than that (80.0%) by CISH, however, the result was statistically not significant (P=0.127). The positive detection rates for HPV16/18 by using both methods increased coincidentally with raising of the tumor grading stage.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The sensitivity and specificity of HPV infection detectable by QD-FISH is higher than that by the CISH technique.</p>