What does the acetic acid white test check?
The acetic acid white test is a commonly used medical detection method, mainly used to assist in the diagnosis of lesions related to HPV (human papillomavirus) infection, especially genital warts and cervical precancerous lesions. The following will introduce in detail the experimental principles, applicable groups, operating procedures, result interpretation and precautions, and attach recent hot topic data for reference.
1. Principle of acetic acid whitening experiment

The acetic acid whitening test involves applying 3%-5% acetic acid solution to the suspected lesion area, using acetic acid's ability to coagulate and whiten abnormally proliferated keratin, helping doctors visually identify potential HPV infection or cancerous tissue.
| Reactive substances | phenomenon | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| normal tissue | no significant changes | No HPV infection or lesions |
| abnormal tissue | Turn white (acetic acid white positive) | Possible HPV infection or precancerous lesions |
2. Applicable people
The following groups are recommended to undergo acetic acid white test screening:
| Crowd type | Screening purpose |
|---|---|
| People with genital warts | Diagnosed genital warts |
| HPV positive patients | Assess the extent of the disease |
| People with abnormal cervical cancer screening | Assisted colposcopy biopsy positioning |
3. Operation steps
1. Clean the detection area
2. Apply 3%-5% acetic acid solution
3. Wait 3-5 minutes to observe the reaction
4. Record the size and shape of the whitened area
4. Interpretation of results
| Result performance | clinical significance |
|---|---|
| Even whitening with clear borders | Typical manifestations of HPV infection |
| Spotted/patchy whitening | Need to be confirmed with biopsy |
| No color change reaction | Exclude HPV-related lesions |
5. Things to note
• False positives may occur (interferences such as inflammation, trauma, etc.)
• Not a substitute for pathological biopsy
• Pregnant women should be cautious when using
Attached: Recent hot topics in medical and health (last 10 days)
| Ranking | topic | heat index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Difficulties in making appointments for HPV vaccine | 92,000 |
| 2 | New guidelines for cervical cancer screening | 78,000 |
| 3 | Research progress on gene editing to treat HPV | 65,000 |
| 4 | Acetic acid whitening test home self-test controversy | 53,000 |
Conclusion:As a preliminary screening method for HPV-related lesions, the acetowhitening test has the advantages of being fast and economical, but attention should be paid to its limitations. It is recommended that those with positive results undergo further HPV-DNA testing or pathological examination. In conjunction with the recently hot topic of HPV vaccine protection, it is emphasized that prevention and early diagnosis are equally important.
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