Table 1.

Pros and cons for tests of HPV status.

Test	Pros	Cons
Southern blot	specific	sensitivity, requires large amounts of DNA, time intensive
ISH	specific, performed on FFPE specimens	poor sensitivity
PCR	specific, rapid	false positives
RT-PCR	sensitive and specific, rapid	requires intact RNA
NGS	sensitive and specific, detect multiple HPV types	cost
p16	perform in clinical labs, correlates with response	not specific for HPV
serology	easy to perform	No direct relationship to viral-associated cancer