title: Type-specific detection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) in self-sampled cervicovaginal cells applied to FTA elute cartridge.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most procedures for self-sampling of cervical cells are based on liquid-based media for transportation and storage. An alternative is to use a solid support, such as dry filter paper media.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if self-sampling of cervicovaginal fluid using a cytobrush (Viba-brush; Rovers Medical Devices B.V., Oss, The Netherlands) and a solid support such as the Whatman Indicating FTA Elute cartridge (GE Healthcare, United Kingdom) can be used for reliable typing of human papillomavirus (HPV), as compared to cervical samples obtained by a physician using a cytobrush and the indicating FTA Elute Micro card and biopsy analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 50 women with a previous high-risk (HR) HPV positive test were invited to perform self-sampling using the Viba-brush and the FTA cartridge and thereafter a physician obtained a cervical sample using the cytobrush and a FTA card, together with a cervical biopsy for histology and HPV typing. Detection of HR-HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58 and 59 was performed using three multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All samples contained sufficient amounts of genomic DNA and the self-samples yielded on average 3.5 times more DNA than those obtained by the physician. All women that were positive for HR-HPV in the biopsy sample also typed positive both by self-sampling and physician-obtained sampling. For women with a histological diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2-3 (CIN 2-3) all three HPV samples showed 100% concordance. A higher number of women were HPV positive by self-sampling than by physician-obtained sampling or by biopsy analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Viba-brush and the FTA cartridge are suitable for self-sampling of vaginal cells and subsequent HR-HPV typing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, University of Uppsala, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. inger.gustavsson@genpat.uu.se
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sanner
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindell
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strand
authors.forename: Matts
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olovsson
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wilander
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gyllensten
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016353:Self-Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013548:Sweden; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000379:methods*; D014773:Virology / Q000379:methods