HPV is most commonly diagnosed with a routine Pap test that uses a small sample of cervical cells to look for changes that are associated with viral infection. Another common diagnostic technique is colposcopy, an in-office exam that uses magnification and a special solution applied to the cervix and vagina to look for abnormal cells. In addition to visual and microscopic examination, there is also a DNA test that can be used to evaluate cells for the presence of HPV. To date, there is no blood test to identify HPV infection.