The diagnostic performance of classical molecular tests used for detecting human papillomavirus

► This study evaluated the performance of two molecular tests for HPV-DNA detection in cervical samples of Colombian women. ► A high HPV-DNA prevalence, as determined by PCR (55.2%) and by HCII (36.5%), was found. ► Three generic primer sets were tested: GP5+/6+, MY09/11 (directed towards L1) and pU1M/2R (directed towards E6-E7). ► High prevalence of abnormal cytology and colposcopy reports were detected in the evaluated population (38.9% and 26.9%, respectively). ► pU1M/2R primer set and HCII showed greater diagnostic performance as tests for HPV-DNA detection.