Genotypic distribution and molecular epidemiology of HPV in women in the UAE using PNA-based RT PCR

The genotypes 53, 16, 68, 66, 31, 61, 35, and 6 were the most common genotypes detected in the PAP smear samples. Notably, 21% of normal epithelial cells of the PAP smear samples tested positive for different HR-HPV genotypes. These findings underscore the crucial role of HPV genotyping using RT-PCR, enhancing the effectiveness of screening surveillance and providing foundational data for future prospective studies, vaccination impact assessments, and targeted screening strategies.