Warts are diagnosed by health care providers during a clinical exam; diagnosis is based on their visual appearance.[1] If there is any doubt about the diagnosis, a skin biopsy may be collected and analyzed to rule out other types of skin growths, such as cancer.[1] Although PCR genotyping techniques can readily determine the specific HPV type(s) responsible for the infection, the specific infecting HPV strain does not affect the recommended treatment.[2][3]
How are warts diagnosed?
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•Last Updated: May 16, 2025
Warts are diagnosed by health care providers through a clinical exam based on their visual appearance, and, if there is uncertainty, a skin biopsy may be performed to exclude other skin growths. Although PCR genotyping can identify the specific HPV (human papilloma virus) type that causes the warts, this information does not influence the treatment recommendations.