Australian HPV Reference Laboratory
The Australian HPV Reference Laboratory supports the advancement of global cervical cancer elimination, and of other HPV-related disease, through expert input into HPV assay design and validation, international laboratory support, training, and policy contributions, with a strong focus on the Indo-Pacific. The Laboratory makes a key contribution to global health by providing specialised laboratory-based support and documentation for a range of domestic and international projects (including EPICC).
The Australian HPV Reference Laboratory is listed by the WHO as a Performance Evaluation Laboratory for HPV nucleic acid testing (NAT).
To enquire about working with us in the design and validation of assays, collection devices or transport media, or for more information about the Australian HPV Reference Laboratory, please use the contact button below:
Services provided by the
Australian HPV Reference Laboratory include:
- Scientific and technical advice
- Quality Assurance and Training
- Laboratory Strengthening and Support
- Evaluation of novel collection devices, media, and HPV assays
- Laboratory Strengthening for Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC)
- Expertise of the Australian HPV Reference Laboratory Team
Scientific and technical advice
The Australian HPV Reference Laboratory:
- Is listed by the WHO as a Performance Evaluation Laboratory for HPV nucleic acid testing (NAT).
- has contributed not only to the quality framework for the HPV-based National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) but has also assisted most public and private laboratories in Australia undertaking HPV-based screening, including with validation or verification of self-collection.
- as part of ACPCC, is a member of the NHMRC funded Centre for Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control (C4) which has contributed to the Australian Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy and produces the annual Cervical Cancer Elimination Progress Report.
- has collaborations both within Australia and internationally covering a wide range of HPV-associated areas including implementation research, basic science research, assay development and validation, quality monitoring and reporting on program performance.
Quality Assurance and Training
The Australian HPV Reference Laboratory:
- undertakes, and contributes to a wide range of proficiency tests across a range of specimen types and HPV assays
- has developed a range of educational resources from those designed for clinicians to ensure suitable and appropriate samples collection, through to training and competency assessment for non-laboratory staff undertaking for point of care testing.
- has helped established quality frameworks for monitoring the performance of HPV assays and HPV-based cervical screening.
- undertakes testing for other laboratories either with specialized assays or specimen types, or for assisting in investigations of testing performance.
Evaluation of novel collection devices, media, and HPV assays
The Australian HPV Reference Laboratory has undertaken clinical validations and/or contributed to accreditation of a range of self-collection devices including the Copan FLOQSwab, the Rovers Viba-brush, the V-Veil UP2, and the Teal Health Wand. Clinical validations of a range of HPV assays are undertaken including the Roche cobas(6800) and (5800), the Abbott Alinity m, and the AusDiagnostics/r-biopharm HPV assays.
The Laboratory offers up-to-date technical information, guidance, and training on HPV laboratory (and Point of Care) practices. The staff excel in developing, evaluating, clinically validating, and implementing HPV assays for cervical screening and other detection paradigms. We support quality assurance programs in the Indo-Pacific region and provide specialist analytical and clinical advice. Additionally, the lab staff contribute to policy and program development aimed at eliminating HPV-based cervical cancers and we maintain a specimen biobank to support the development of technologies and processes to reduce HPV-related disease.
Laboratory Strengthening for EPICC
Under the banner of the EPICC Consortium, the Australian HPV Reference Laboratory is working to support laboratory processes in a range of countries including Fiji, Malaysia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste, and Vanuatu.
AUSTRALIAN HPV REFERENCE LABORATORY
Team Members
Associate Professor Dave Hawkes
Director – Australian HPV Reference Laboratory
Dr Hiu Tat Mark Chan
Clinical Microbiologist
Ms Grace Tan
Director – Cytology and Histology
Dr Nomvuyo Mothobi
Clinical Microbiologist
Sivly Ha
Molecular Senior Scientist
Marco Keung
Molecular Laboratory Supervisor
Other Recent
International Activities
- Assisted two laboratories in New Zealand to validate self-collection for use in their HPV-based National Cervical Screening Programme, which launched in September 2023
- Developed a method to produce external quality assurance/verification/verification panels of FLOQSwabs which have been used in several countries in Asia-Pacific for quality assurance and verification/validation
- Worked with the SHE-CAN project in India to improve lab protocols and quality control.
- Undertook analytical validation studies for a novel self-collection device on behalf of Teal Health which has received FDA (USA) for regulatory approval.
- Has assisted Microbix in the development of a Copan FLOQSwab quality control product which is being used both within Australia and in the EPICC project for both training and quality control monitoring of HPV testing.
Recent
Publications
Authors: Marc Arbyn, Kate Cuschieri, Jesper Bonde, Rob Schuurman, Clementina Cocuzza, Davy Vanden Broeck, Fang-Hui Zhao, Remila Rezhake, Murat Gultekin, Silvia de Sanjosé, Karen Canfell, David Hawkes, Marion Saville, Peter Hillemanns, Joakim Dillner, Johannes Berkhof, Jean-Luc Prétet, Tarik Gheit, Gary Clifford, Partha Basu, Maribel Almonte, Nicolas Wentzensen, Mario Poljak
Authors: Marco Ho Ting Keung,
Nikita Mehta, Elliott Lynn, Eunice Pineda, Dagnachew Fetene, Alvin Lee, Nick Vandegraaff, Terri Sahin, Alice Chynoweth, Cassandra Bonney, Hiu Tat Mark Chan, Marc Arbyn, Marion Saville, David Hawkes
Authors: Alvin Lee, David Hawkes, Daniel Sweeney, Kerryann Wyatt, Claire Nightingale, Corey Chalmers & Marion Saville
Authors: Megan B. Fitzpatrick; Catherine M. Behrens; Karl Hibler; Courtney Parsons; Clair Kaplan; Ronald Orso; Lamar Parker; Lisa Memmel; Ann Collins; Colleen McNicholas; LaShonda Crane; Youri Hwang,; Elizabeth Sutton; Jenell Coleman; Lindsay Kuroki; Kimberly Harshberger; Sigrid Williams; Ashley Jennings; Frank Buccini; Laura Gillis; Akiva P. Novetsky; David Hawkes; Marion Saville; Trena Depel; Emeline Aviki; Sangini S. Sheth; Christine Conageski
Authors: Glen R. Guerra, Joseph C. Kong, Rosemary M. Millen, Matthew Read, David S. Liu, Sara Roth, Shienny Sampurno, Joseph Sia, Maria-Pia Bernardi, Timothy J. Chittleborough, Corina C. Behrenbruch, Jiasian Teh, Huiling Xu, Nicole M. Haynes, Jiaan Yu, Richard Lupat, David Hawkes, Natasha Di Costanzo, Richard W. Tothill, Catherine Mitchell, Samuel Y. Ngan, Alexander G. Heriot, Robert G. Ramsay & Wayne A. Phillips
Authors: Nikita Mehta, Marco Ho Ting Keung, Eunice Pineda, Elliott Lynn, Dagnachew Fetene, Alvin Lee, Nicolas Hougardy, Amelie Heinrichs, Hiu Tat Mark Chan, Marc Arbyn, Marion Saville, David Hawkes
