Background:We conducted a baseline prevalence survey of unvaccinated 11- to 18-year olds to inform effectiveness studies for the new human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme in Scotland.Methods:Participants were recruited from schools and colleges and invited to provide demographic data and an anonymous urine sample for type-specific HPV testing.Results:Among females aged 11–14 years, the weighted prevalence was 1.1% overall; 0.9% for high-risk types and no infections were associated with types 16 and 18. Among 15- to 18-year old females, the weighted prevalence was 15.2% overall; 12.6% for high-risk types and 6.5% for types 16 and 18. Among females aged 16–18 years, infection was more frequently associated with attending college and rural schools, and showed a trend towards increasing prevalence with increasing social deprivation (P=0.045). Among males aged 11–14 years, the weighted prevalence was 1.4% overall; 1.0% for high-risk types and 0.7% for types 16 and 18. Among 15- to 18-year old males, the weighted prevalence was 3.9% overall; 2.4% for high-risk types and 0.7% for types 16 and 18.Conclusions:Human Papillomavirus prevalence is low among 11- to 14-year olds, which includes the age group targeted for routine vaccination. The prevalence in males and correlation with deprivation require further investigation.

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These data show that cell-cycle disruption as a result of low-risk HPV infection is similar to that reported for productive high-risk HPV infection, suggesting that the life cycles of these 2 viral groups in suprabasal keratinocytes is similar. The reexpression of Ki67 in areas of viral DNA amplification suggests that this protein may play a role in HPV DNA replication.