Comparison of type-specific human papillomavirus data from self and clinician directed sampling.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the type-specific human papillomavirus (HPV) recovery from physician and patient-collected samples.


METHODS
Three hundred thirty-four (334) women attending colposcopy clinics in three countries were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Cervicovaginal samples were collected by patients and physicians and processed with polymerase chain reaction and reverse line blot genotyping. McNemar's Chi-squared tests and Kappa statistics were utilized to determine statistical associations between physician- versus patient-collected samples.


RESULTS
Oncogenic HPV infection was identified in 23.2% of patient-collected specimens compared to 34.9% of physician-collected specimens. Physician sampling detected significantly more infections with type 16 and 52 than did self-sampling and significantly more oncogenic HPV infection overall. For non-oncogenic HPV detection, there was no statistical difference between physician- and patient-collected samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Patient sampling for HPV using a single vaginal brush does not identify all oncogenic HPV subtypes.
Baldwin
Susie
S
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
Santos
Carlos
C
Mendez Brown
Elena
E
Nuño
Thomas
T
Giuliano
Anna
A
Davis
John
J
Garcia
Francisco
F
D003127:Colposcopy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012648:Self Care; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000821:virology*