High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection Prevalence: A Nationwide Retrospective Study Comparing Opportunistic and Organized Screening in France

A nationwide retrospective study published in Eurosurveillance has investigated the prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical infections in France. The research compared the prevalence of HPV16 and/or 18, and other carcinogenic HPV genotypes between opportunistic screening and the national screening program. The study found that opportunistic screening was associated with a higher prevalence of HPV infections, particularly among younger females.

Key Takeaways:

• The study extracted data from 362,963 HR HPV tests performed between 1 January 2020 and 30 November 2023 in metropolitan France.
• Among samples positive for HPV16 and/or 18, 2.9% were from organized screening, while 3.8% were from opportunistic screening.
• Samples positive for other genotypes were 6.9% and 9.4% from organized and opportunistic screening, respectively.
• The study found a pronounced north-west/south-east gradient in infection prevalence for both genotype groups, with hotspots located at the border with Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
• Opportunistic screening was associated with systemic inflation of HR HPV infection prevalence.
• The study concluded that organized screening may be more effective in controlling HPV infections.

Statistics:

• 362,963 HR HPV tests were extracted from a large network of biology laboratories between 1 January 2020 and 30 November 2023.
• 2.9% of samples positive for HPV16 and/or 18 were from organized screening.
• 3.8% of samples positive for HPV16 and/or 18 were from opportunistic screening.
• 6.9% of samples positive for other genotypes were from organized screening.
• 9.4% of samples positive for other genotypes were from opportunistic screening.

Sources:

• Eurosurveillance. High-risk human papillomavirus cervical infection prevalence: a nationwide retrospective study comparing opportunistic and organised screening, France, 2020 to 2023. Eurosurveillance, 2025, 30(28).
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (Publisher)
• doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.28.2400689 (Free online access)
• College de France, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Universite PSL, Paris, France. (Authors)
• NewsRx LLC. Copyright 2025, NewsRx LLC (Publication Date: August 8, 2025)