Los Angeles HPV Tests for Men, Women, and Children

When it comes to testing for HPVLos Angeles residents have never had it easier. Total Testing Solutions offers a revolutionary new way to detect HPV using a throat swab. We have partnered with OmniPathology, a private lab near Los Angeles that has developed the world’s most convenient and comfortable way to diagnose oral HPV in adults and children.

What is HPV?

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a viral infection that nearly all individuals contract at least once in their lifetime. There are more than 100 strains of human papillomavirus. Some types of human papillomavirus have no symptoms, others cause warts, and others can lead to cancer.

Human papillomavirus is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. It is most likely to happen during sex, but it can also affect children and people who are not sexually active. For example, it can be passed from mother to child during childbirth or when broken skin comes into contact with the infected skin or mucous membrane of a person carrying the virus. This contact generally needs to be direct. Passing human papillomavirus onto someone by sharing drinks, straws, or utensils is possible but unlikely.

HPV usually goes away on its own. Some low-risk strains cause warts on the skin or genital region. People with high-risk human papillomavirus have an elevated risk of throat cancer, tongue cancer, penile cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer, or anal cancer. Since human papillomavirus does not have obvious symptoms, it is essential to undergo testing to check for HPV.

What are the signs of HPV infection?

Most people with HPV do not know they have it. Oral HPV is symptomless, and genital HPV rarely shows symptoms. Some warts are caused by human papillomavirus, but these lesions are absent in the strains associated with cancer. When caught early, patients with high-risk HPV can be monitored or treated.

Who is at risk for HPV?

Human papillomavirus is commonly transmitted during sexual activities, but that is not the only way to get HPV.

Sexual Transmission

Nearly all individuals who are sexually active will contract HPV in their lifetime. Anyone who has sex is at risk, whether they engage in oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Condoms and dental dams lower the chance of contracting the virus, but they are not 100 percent effective.

Non-Sexual Transmission

While rare, children and adults can be infected with human papillomavirus even if they are not sexually active. HPV is not transmitted through semen or saliva, but through skin-to-skin contact. Employees who handle meat, fish, and poultry can also develop ‘butcher’s warts’ caused by human papillomavirus type 7.

Possible Risk Factors

Smoking
Vaginal childbirth
Open-mouth kissing
Sex with multiple partners
Sharing drinks and utensils
A weakened immune system
Unprotected oral, anal, or vaginal sex
Accidental inoculation during diaper changes

Until Now, Only Women Could Be Tested for HPV

Traditionally, women can test for human papillomavirus through a moderately invasive technique, the PAP smear. A physician swabs the cervix and examines for cell irregularities. If the results of the HPV PAP smear are abnormal, a biopsy confirms the strains of human papillomavirus present. Only then can the patient receive treatment.

Drawbacks and Limitations

This process takes multiple visits over several weeks and is only available to women with routine access to gynecological care. Diagnostic delays can lead to the further spread of human papillomavirus. There are a handful of home test kits for men, but user error and inaccurate results are common concerns.

A Missed Opportunity for Men and Children

Since only women who come in for wellness exams are routinely tested, a huge subset of the population misses the opportunity to find out if they have human papillomavirus. According to the CDC, 10 percent of men and 3.6 percent of women have oral HPV. Children are also at risk.

The Future of HPV Testing is Here

With the new human papillomavirus test at Total Testing Solutions, anyone can have an oral human papillomavirus test in Los Angeles regardless of age or gender. OmniPathology, a lab nearby, has developed a throat swab technique to detect human papillomavirus in men, women, and children.

Advantages of the Oral HPV Test

Accurate results
Fast turnaround time
Convenient and reliable
Available to people of all ages
Least-invasive test on the market
No health insurance or approval required

How it Works

Total Testing Solutions’ highly trained technicians collect a sample from a throat swab. The process only takes a few seconds. TTS sends the specimen to OmniPathology. They analyze the results using state-of-the-art lab equipment handled by a team of world-class Los Angeles pathologists. They send the test results back in days, expediting the diagnostic process so patients can take the next step to receive monitoring or treatment.

Schedule your Oral HPV Test in Los Angeles at Total Testing Solutions Today

Contact Total Testing Solutions to learn more about the new Los Angeles human papillomavirus test and how it can safeguard your health. Cash payment options are available, and you do not need insurance to be tested.

FAQs

Can HPV go away on its own?

Most human papillomavirus infections go away on their own. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 90 percent of infections clear within two years.

Is HPV curable? How is HPV treated?

While human papillomavirus is incurable, treatments are available. Options include cryotherapy and Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP).

Can males be tested for HPV?

The new oral human papillomavirus test at Total Testing Solutions quickly and accurately diagnoses oral HPV in men, women, and children. Previously, only women could be tested for human papillomavirus through a PAP smear.

Is there an at-home HPV test?

While tests for home use exist, they do not test for all viral strains. Most home tests require a vaginal or cervical swab, which can be difficult without medical training. Without guidance from a CLIA-certified partner or physician, patients can easily misconstrue their results or miss opportunities to seek treatment.

Is there an HPV vaccine?

Gardasil 9 protects against types 16 and 18, which cause up to 80 percent of cervical cancer. It also guards against types 6 and 11, which cause 90 percent of genital warts, and five additional strains linked to cancer. Patients aged nine to 45 can receive the Gardasil vaccine. The vaccine is most effective around age 11 or 12, before becoming sexually active.

What cancers are associated with HPV?

High-risk human papillomavirus has been linked to throat, tongue, vaginal, vulvar, cervical, anal, and penile cancers.

Can you have genital HPV and oral HPV at the same time?

Yes, patients can have oral HPV, genital HPV, or both. One research study showed that 76 percent of female participants with oral HPV also tested positive for vaginal HPV. (Source)

How can I prevent HPV?

Practicing safe sex is the best way to prevent human papillomavirus. Abstinence, condoms, and dental dams lower the risk of human papillomavirus transmission. A person can unknowingly contract human papillomavirus through skin-to-skin contact even if they refrain from sex.

Can I get HPV if I am not sexually active?

Yes. While less common, adults and children can develop human papillomavirus even if they have never had sex.

Does HPV cause genital warts?

There are more than 100 human papillomavirus strains. Types 6 and 11 are responsible for most genital warts. These soft, fleshy lesions are contagious but treatable. The high-risk strains of HPV do not cause warts.

Is there an HPV blood test?

There is no blood test for human papillomavirus currently.

Oral HPV Testing