A novel method for the detection and typing of human papillomaviruses (HPV) based on consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using MY09/MY11 primers followed by detection of PCR products in a standard microtiter plate format using a recently developed commercially available standardised PCR ELISA kit (Boehringer Mannheim, Germany) was developed. The reliability and feasibility of the method were evaluated on 140 HPV-positive and 85 HPV-negative DNA samples extracted from different archival clinical specimens. Virtually complete agreement between the results of this novel method and the results of previous in-house PCRs and typing method was obtained. The sensitivity level of the novel method, determined by serial log-dilutions of SiHa cells, is about 50 copies of HPV 16. The PCR-ELISA provides the potential for an automated, simple, rapid and accurate test for detection and typing of HPV in diagnostic virological laboratories.