Definition of study groups for the persistence of high risk-human papillomavirus.

Of 284 women positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) and cytological findings of low-grade squamous intraepithelial or lower-grade lesions at enrollment who were evaluated at the 1-year follow-up assessment, 122 returned for the 2-year follow-up. Clearance in the 1-year follow-up group was defined as HPV positivity at baseline with HPV negativity after 1 year; similarly, persistence in the 1-year follow-up group was defined as HPV positivity both at baseline and 1 year later. Clearance and persistence of the 2-year follow-up group were defined as HPV positivity at baseline with HPV negativity and HPV positivity after 2 years, respectively, regardless of intermediate results. HR-HPV status was determined using the commercial Hybrid Capture 2 test.