Under India's operational framework for cervical cancer screening within the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke, HPV DNA testing is recommended for which age group and at what interval?
- A Women aged 30 to 49 years, every 5 years ✓
- B Women aged 21 to 65 years, every 3 years
- C Women aged 25 to 65 years, every 10 years
- D Women aged 30 to 65 years, every year
Correct answer: A. Women aged 30 to 49 years, every 5 years
Explanation
The national operational framework recommends HPV DNA testing for women aged 30 to 49 years, repeated every 5 years if negative. VIA was the earlier see-and-treat modality, while cytology requires laboratory infrastructure unavailable at scale. Screening starts at 30 years because HPV infection below this age is usually transient and self-clearing, and it stops at 49 years in the public programme on cost-effectiveness grounds.
Reference: Operational Framework for Management of Common Cancers, MoHFW India, 2016 ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.