Abstract: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common female cancer in the world. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, so early detection of HPV infection is essential for cervical cancer prevention. The World Health Organization recommended HPV DNA testing as the primary screening method. Isothermal amplification technology is more suitable for HPV testing because it is easier to operate and more efficient than variable temperature amplification technology, which requires less laboratory conditions, less operator effort, and lower economic costs. This paper comparatively analyses the advantages and disadvantages of isothermal amplification techniques used for HPV detection, commonly used amplification product readout methods and the current status of the application of isothermal amplification techniques in combination with other techniques (e.g., microfluidic chip technology, CRISPR-Cas technology, smartphone assay, and lateral flow dipstick) for detection of HPV. At last, the advantages and disadvantages of these methods and techniques are analyzed, their suitable application scenarios are elaborated, and the shortcomings of isothermal amplification techniques are summarized and the prospects for their development are outlooked.

Key words: Isothermal amplification technology, Human papillomavirus, Research progress