Vaginal self-swab specimen collection in a home-based survey of older women: methods and applications.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the methods used for, cooperation with, assays conducted on, and applications of vaginal specimens collected by older women in their homes.


METHODS
Community-residing women (N = 1,550), ages 57-85 years, participated in a nationally representative probability survey. Vaginal self-swab specimen collection and in-home interviews were conducted between 2005 and 2006. Specimens were analyzed for bacterial vaginosis (BV), vaginal candidiasis (VC), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), and cytological characteristics. Field methods, consent procedures, the swab protocol, laboratory procedures, and results reporting are described.


RESULTS
One thousand twenty-eight respondents (67.5% weighted) agreed to provide a vaginal specimen; 99.1% were successful. The specimen adequacy rates were BV and VC, 94.1%; HR-HPV, 99.7%; and cytology, 85.5%. The most common recorded reason for nonparticipation was a physical or health problem (38% of nonresponders). Responders were significantly more likely than nonresponders to be younger and more educated, and were more likely to report a recent pelvic examination, menopausal hormone use, and recent sexual activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Collection of vaginal self-swab specimens from older women in a population-based study is feasible and provides novel data on microenvironmental characteristics of the female genital tract relevant to analyses of gynecologic health, sexual activity and problems, and immune and inflammatory function.
Lindau
Stacy T
ST
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine-Geriatrics, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC2050, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. slindau@uchicago.edu
Hoffmann
Joscelyn N
JN
Lundeen
Katie
K
Jaszczak
Angela
A
McClintock
Martha K
MK
Jordan
Jeanne A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002452:Cell Count; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014481:United States; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology