Background: Atypical and low grade cervical cytology are frequent findings, however, not always relevant. Aims: Prospective study, that analyzes the usefulness of determining high risk human papilloma virus test (HPV), in detecting high grade intra epithelial neoplasia in these patients. Method: 94 patients with atypical cytology and 116 patients with CIN 1 cytology were evaluated with the high risk HPV test. Results: In patients with atypical cytology, a positive HPV test identified 23[%] with high grade CIN versus only in 4[%] when the test was negative (p=0.0124). In patients with CIN 1 cytology, a positive test identified 13[%] with high grade CIN versus 5.5[%] in those with a negative test (p=0.6923). Conclusion: High risk HPV determination is a useful test in patients with atypical cytology, however non contributory in patients with low grade CIN cytology.