Self-obtained vaginal swabs for diagnosis of treatable sexually transmitted diseases in adolescent girls.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the acceptability of testing and prevalence of 3 readily treatable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (infections with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis) with the use of patient-obtained vaginal swabs.


METHODS
Study participants at each initial session were asked to provide self-obtained vaginal swabs for ligase chain reaction testing to detect N gonorrhoeae and C trachomatis, and for culture of T vaginalis.


METHODS
Behavioral intervention sessions with African American adolescent girls in a nonclinical program to reduce risk of STDs, human immunodeficiency virus infection, and pregnancy.


RESULTS
All study participants were offered their choice of STD screening in the context of a traditional pelvic examination or using self-obtained vaginal swabs. All eligible participants chose self-administered vaginal swabs. Of the 512 participants examined at their initial study visit, 28.7% were found to be infected with 1 or more treatable STDs (5.3% with N gonorrhoeae, 17.8% with C trachomatis, and 12.9% with T vaginalis).


CONCLUSIONS
With the use of newer detection systems, STDs can be readily detected in nonclinical settings with the use of self-obtained vaginal swabs, providing new opportunities for efforts to control STDs.
Smith
K
K
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 229 Tinsley Harrison Tower, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294-0006, USA. krs@uab.edu
Harrington
K
K
Wingood
G
G
Oh
M K
MK
Hook
E W
EW
DiClemente
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D022521:Ligase Chain Reaction; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D014626:Vaginal Smears