Self-collected versus clinician-collected human papillomavirus samples

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Cervical cancer screening relies on accurate detection of human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Comparing self-collection versus clinician-collection methods is crucial for optimizing screening strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic comparability of self-collected and clinician-collected samples for HPV detection.
• To assess cytological findings and the identification of other infectious agents from both sample types.

Main Methods:

• A prospective comparative study enrolled 124 women aged 30-65 years for routine cervical cancer screening.
• Participants were randomized into clinician-collected (n=51) or self-collected (n=73) groups.
• HPV DNA was analyzed using multiplex real-time PCR; cytology followed the Bethesda system.

Main Results:

• Overall HPV positivity was 21.8%, with no significant difference between clinician-collected (27.5%) and self-collected (17.8%) samples (p=0.200).
• Cytological abnormalities were found in 5.5% of self-collected samples versus 0% in clinician-collected samples (p=0.236).
• Detection rates for Candida and Trichomonas vaginalis were similar between groups; participant satisfaction was high (78.8%).

Conclusions:

• Self-collected HPV sampling provides diagnostically comparable results to clinician-collected specimens.
• Self-collection is a feasible and acceptable complementary approach for cervical cancer screening.
• This method can potentially increase screening participation among under-reached populations.