Cervical scrapes from 80 women with a positive cytology result were tested for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compared to the results obtained with the modified filter in situ hybridisation (FISH) and the Southern-blot techniques. The sensitivity of the modified FISH and the Southern-blot was similar, and HPV was detected in 46% of the patients. The sensitivity of the PCR appeared to be higher, and HPV was detected in 70% of the patients. HPV-DNA could be detected in 46 of the 68 patients with mild dysplasia, in 6 of the 8 patients with severe dysplasia, and in all 4 patients with carcinoma in situ. In 18 patients (21%) more than one HPV type could be detected by the PCR. The control group consisted of 100 women involved in a triennial checkup programme, who had normal smear results and no history of cervical lesions. HPV was detected in 5% of the women by the PCR. The PCR technique detected HPV in a high proportion of the cervical scrapes from women with a positive cytology result. These results give further evidence for an important role of HPV in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer.