An in vitro method is provided for screening human female subjects to
assess their risk of developing cervical carcinoma which comprises
screening the subject for expression of mRNA transcripts from the E6 and
optionally the L1 gene of human papillomavirus, wherein subjects positive
for expression of L1 and/or E6 mRNA are scored as being at risk of
developing cervical carcinoma. Kits for carrying out such methods are
also provided.