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Acceptability of sexually transmitted infection testing using self-collected vaginal swabs among college women.

ABSTRACT: To assess the acceptability of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing using self-collected vaginal swabs (SCVS) among college women.First-year female students (N=483).Participants were offered free testing for 3 STIs using SCVS in April 2010 and later completed a survey regarding their testing decision and experiences.Sixty-four percent (n=310) accepted testing; of these, 98% found it easy or very easy to understand the SCVS instructions, and 93% found it easy or very easy to collect the specimen. Among the 36% who did not participate in testing, most had scheduling conflicts or did not perceive a risk for STIs; only 26% felt uncomfortable about the SCVS procedure. Among all women, SCVS was preferred over other STI testing methods.STI testing using SCVS was acceptable to the majority of college women and could increase the uptake of testing among sexually active college women.

SUBMITTER: Fielder RL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3545397 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Acceptability of sexually transmitted infection testing using self-collected vaginal swabs among college women.

Fielder Robyn L RL Carey Kate B KB Carey Michael P MP

Journal of American college health : J of ACH 20130101 1

<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the acceptability of sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing using self-collected vaginal swabs (SCVS) among college women.<h4>Participants</h4>First-year female students (N=483).<h4>Methods</h4>Participants were offered free testing for 3 STIs using SCVS in April 2010 and later completed a survey regarding their testing decision and experiences.<h4>Results</h4>Sixty-four percent (n=310) accepted testing; of these, 98% found it easy or very easy to understand the ...[more]

PMID: 23305544

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Project description:BackgroundFemale Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) is a neglected disease of the genital tract due to the inflammatory response to the presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in the genital tract. The WHO has prioritized the improvement of diagnostics for FGS and previous studies have explored the PCR-based detection of Schistosoma DNA on genital specimens, with encouraging results. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of FGS among women living in an endemic district in North-western Tanzania, using PCR on samples collected though cervical-vaginal swabs, and to compare the performance of self-collected and healthcare worker-collected (operator-collected) samples, and the acceptability of the different sampling methods.Methods/principal findingsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving 211 women living in 2 villages in the Maswa district of North-western Tanzania. Urine, self-collected and operator-collected cervical-vaginal swabs were obtained from participants. A questionnaire was administered, focusing on the comfortability in undergoing different diagnostic procedures. Prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis, as assessed by eggs in urine, was 8.5% (95%CI 5.1-13.1). DNA was pre-isolated from genital swabs and transported at room temperature to Italy for molecular analysis. Prevalence of active schistosomiasis, urinary schistosomiasis, and FGS were 10.0% (95% CI 6.3-14.8), 8.5% (95%CI 5.1-13.1), and 4.7% (95%CI 2.3-8.5), respectively. When real-time PCR was performed after a pre-amplification step, the prevalence of active schistosomiasis increased to 10.4% (95%CI 6.7-15.4), and FGS to 5.2% (95%CI 2.6-9.1). Of note, more cases were detected by self-collected than operator-collected swabs. The vast majority of participants (95.3%) declared that they were comfortable/very comfortable about genital self-sampling, which was indicated as the preferred sampling method by 40.3% of participants.Conclusions/significanceThe results of this study show that genital self-sampling followed by pre-amplified PCR on room temperature-stored DNA is a useful method from both technical and acceptability point of views. This encourages further studies to optimize samples processing, and identify the best operational flow to allow integration of FGS screening into women health programmes, such as HPV screening.

Project description:BackgroundPolymerase chain reaction-based Xpert human papillomavirus (HPV) assay is a rapid test that detects high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection. This point-of-care test is usually performed by collecting a cervical specimen in a vial of PreservCyt® transport medium. We compared HPV test positivity and accuracy between self-collected sample with a dry swab (s-DRY) versus physician-collected cervical sampling using a broom like brush and immediate immersion in PreservCyt (dr-WET).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we recruited 150 women ? 18 years old attending the colposcopy clinic in the University Hospital of Geneva. Each participant first self-collected a vaginal sample using a dry swab and then the physician collected a cervical specimen in PreservCyt. HPV analysis was performed with Xpert. Part of the PreservCyt-collected sample was used for hrHPV detection with the cobas® HPV test. HPV test positivity and performance of the two collection methods was compared.ResultsHPV positivity was 49.1% for s-DRY, 41.8% for dr-WET and 46.2% for cobas. Good agreement was found between s-DRY and dr-WET samples (kappa±Standard error (SE) = 0.64±0.09,), particularly for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL+) (kappa±SE = 0.80±0.17). Excellent agreement was found between the two samples for HPV16 detection in general (kappa±SE = 0.91±0.09) and among LSIL+ lesions (kappa±SE = 1.00±0.17). Sensitivities and specificities were, respectively, 84.2% and 47.1%(s-DRY), 73.1% and 58.7%. (dr-WET) and 77.8% and 45.7% (cobas) for CIN2+ detection. The median delay between sampling and HPV analysis was 7 days for the Xpert HPV assay and 19 days for cobas. There were 36 (24.0%) invalid results among s-DRY samples and 4 (2.7%) among dr-WET (p = 0.001). Invalid results happened due to the long interval between collection and analysis.ConclusionSelf-collected vaginal dry swabs are a valid alternative to collecting cervical samples in PreservCyt solution for HPV testing with the Xpert HPV assay.ImpactHPV self-collection with dry cotton swabs might assist in the implementation of an effective screening strategy in developing countries.Trial registrationInternational Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry ISRCTN83050913.

Project description:ObjectivesTo increase effectiveness of the cervical cancer screening program, self-sampling can be an option. Both self-collected vaginal samples (SCV) and urine samples may be useful alternatives to clinician-taken cervical samples (CS).DesignCross-sectional study.SettingColposcopy clinic.ParticipantsWomen (n=305) referred to colposcopy after abnormal cervical screening result or conditions like postcoital bleeding.InterventionAll women self-collected a urine and a vaginal sample prior to colposcopy, where a CS and biopsies were taken. All samples were tested for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) using the Cobas HPV assay. The gold standard was histology diagnoses (CIN2+/CIN3+) from biopsies obtained at the same examination.Primary outcomeAbsolute and relative sensitivity and specificity of HPV testing on SCV and urine to detect CIN2+/CIN3+ compared with the CS.Secondary outcomeThe acceptability by women of self-sampling.ResultsBoth the vaginal and urine sample were comparable to the CS in identifying severe intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+/CIN3+). Absolute sensitivity ranged from 93% for urine samples to 96% for SCV for detecting CIN2+, which is comparable to the sensitivity of CS (overlapping 95% CI).The relative sensitivity for detecting CIN2+ was 1.00 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.04) for SCV and 0.96 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.03) for urine samples. At CIN3+, the relative sensitivity was 1.00 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.08) and 0.97 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.07) for SCV and urine samples, respectively. There were no statistical differences between the self-collected samples and the CS (McNemar's test >0.05). The relative specificity was also similar (1.03 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.12) for SCV and 0.98 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.09) for urine samples) (McNemar's test >0.05).The acceptability of self-sampling was evaluated by questionnaire. The women found the instructions on sample collection easy to understand and were positive about self-sampling with a preference for the urine sample.ConclusionSelf-sampling by SCV and urine is a clinically safe alternative to CS with a high degree of acceptability.

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Acceptability of sexually transmitted infection testing using self-collected vaginal swabs among college women.

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Acceptability of sexually transmitted infection testing using self-collected vaginal swabs among college women.

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