The development of quantitative optical microscopy has led to the ability to obtain accurate, highly sensitive spatial and temporal measurements of cell structure and function as well as the detection of low levels of pathogenic agents. One application of this capability has been in studies examining the role of high risk Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) in cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in women worldwide, and epidemiological studies have strongly implicated the sexually transmitted HPV as a causative agent. So far, approximately 70 different genotypes have been identified, and those types associated with genital lesions have been classified as either “low-risk” or “high-risk” based on their association with benign or malignant lesions. The “high-risk” HPVs, such as HPV-16 and 18, have been found in approximately 84% of cervical carcinomas and are associated with cervical dysplasia and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). HPV-16 is the most prevalent high-risk genotype and is present in about 50% of all genital lesions.