Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title:  HPV testing for cervical cancer screening: technical improvement of laboratory logistics 
and good clinical performance of the cobas 6800 in comparison to the 4800 system.  
 
Version: 0 Date: 29 Aug 2018 
 
Reviewer:  Wen  Chen  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This study evaluated the agreement of cobas4800 and cobas68 00 for detecting HPV and 
performance of clinic sensitivity and specificity on cervical cancer screening. The intra -
laboratory and inter -laboratory reproducibility for cobas6800 were studied, too. Several issues 
need to be clarified:  
 
1. According to manuscr ipt, the normal sample for cobas680 HPV test is around 6 months old 
but 3 years old for the abnormal. How long is the PreservCyt sample used for cobas4800 HPV 
test? 
 
2. In view of 50 cycles for cobas4800 is applied. I am not sure if it is also 50 cycles for  
cobas6800. If yes, it is better to output all the ct value less than 50. Scatter plots of ct value can 
be draw for comparison between cobas4800 and cobas6800 by HPV16, HPV18 and Other types, 
which can facilitate evaluation of the impacts of storage time a nd the two technologies' 
difference in more details.  
 
3. Scatter plots of ct value are also needed for intra -lab agreement evaluation between cobas6800 
HPV tests, inter -lab agreement evaluation.  
 
4. Table3 is not necessary, suggest delete. Clinic sensitivity  and specificity can be described in 
the manuscript.  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to asses s the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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