What is changing in oncovirus diagnostics

The diagnosis of oncoviruses—viruses capable of inducing or contributing to the development of cancer—is going through a period of technological transformation, particularly in the case of human papillomavirus (HPV), which concentrates most of the recent research in this field. Scientific reviews published in 2024 and 2025 identify five emerging technologies with the strongest supporting evidence: droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), next-generation sequencing (NGS), CRISPR/Cas systems, isothermal amplification techniques, and artificial intelligence applied to screening. Together, these technologies point toward more accurate results, shorter turnaround times, and the possibility of testing at the point of care, closer to the patient.

Liquid biopsy: a less invasive alternative

One of the most developed lines of work is the liquid biopsy: instead of relying exclusively on tissue biopsies, tests in blood and other liquid samples are being validated to detect circulating viral DNA. In HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers, this technique has shown agreement above 90% with conventional biopsy results, and it is emerging as a complementary tool—not a substitute—for monitoring treatment response and detecting recurrences in a less invasive way. In parallel, recent technical advances have made it possible to detect HPV-16 DNA in liquid samples without the extraction steps that previously made the test more expensive and slower, which could ease its adoption in more laboratories.

At-home self-sampling: a real regulatory change, already approved in the US

In May 2024, the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration) approved the first HPV self-sampling tests for use in a healthcare setting (doctor's office, pharmacy, mobile clinic). In May 2025, it approved the first kit for fully at-home use, under medical prescription: the person collects their own sample at home and mails it to a certified laboratory for processing. In 2026, a second kit of this kind was approved, able to individually identify six high-risk HPV genotypes, allowing them to be followed over time.

Two important clarifications: this applies specifically to HPV and cervical cancer screening—as far as the reviewed evidence allows us to confirm, there is no equivalent development for other oncoviruses such as Epstein-Barr virus—and these approvals come from the US FDA, so they do not necessarily mean availability or approval in Colombia, which depends on INVIMA.

Five-year outlook: what the evidence says (and what remains uncertain)

Based on scientific reviews and market analyses of the sector (2024-2025), these are the best-supported trends:

• Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 15.7% through 2030, well above the growth pace of traditional PCR—although PCR will remain the dominant technology in the short term, given the infrastructure already installed in laboratories.
• Continued expansion of point-of-care testing, driven by the miniaturization of equipment.
• Greater consolidation of the liquid biopsy as a complementary tool to tissue biopsy, especially for monitoring treatment and detecting recurrences.
• Artificial intelligence and digital pathology are emerging as additional support for molecular tests, not as a replacement for them.

What remains uncertain: there is no clear evidence that at-home self-sampling will extend in the short term to oncoviruses other than HPV; and the real pace of adoption of these technologies will depend largely on the regulation and infrastructure of each country, which can differ considerably from that of the United States.

Sources consulted

• "Evolving HPV diagnostics: current practice and future frontiers" (2025).
• "HPV Detection in Oropharyngeal Cancer: A Narrative Review of Diagnostic and Emerging Molecular Approaches" (2025).
• Molecular diagnostics market report, Mordor Intelligence (2025-2030).
• FDA communications on HPV self-sampling (2024-2026).

This article provides general educational information and does not replace an individual medical assessment.