Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus in the cervix.

Abstract

Cervical smears from 327 women were examined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeted to a sequence in the Bam H1 W region of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to determine the prevalence of the virus in the cervix. EBV was detected in 131 (40%) of the 327 women. Of the 235 women with normal cytology, 98 (42%) were positive. Of the 92 women with dyskariotic smears, 33 (36%) were positive.