title: High Rate of β-Globin DNA Detection Validates Self-Sampling in Herpes Simplex Virus Shedding Studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-sampling is a convenient, feasible, and acceptable way of collecting genital specimens, but the veracity of reported self-collection is difficult to verify. We investigated whether a host gene, β-globin, can be used to confirm adequacy of self-collected mucosal and skin genital specimens in studies of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Herpes simplex virus type 2-seropositive adults self-collected daily anogenital and oral swabs. Mucosal samples were tested for HSV DNA using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. A real-time Taqman polymerase chain reaction detecting the β-globin gene was used to quantify host cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twelve participants collected 5559 genital and 2002 oral swabs. Sixty (54%) were women, 65% were HSV-2 seropositive, and 35% were HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive by Western blot. β-globin DNA was detected in 99% and 93% of swabs obtained from women and men, respectively. The quantity of β-globin DNA detected was significantly higher when HSV was present in genital swabs in women (0.1 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.001) and in men (0.6 log10 copies/mL; P < 0.001), but not in oral swabs in women (0.2 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.08) or men (0.0 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.70).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human β-globin DNA detection rate was high, and the quantity obtained significantly increased with genital, but not oral HSV shedding. The high rate of β-globin DNA detection is consistent with high adherence to study procedures in longitudinal studies of genital herpes shedding.
authors.affiliation: From the *Departments of Global Health, †Epidemiology, ‡Laboratory Medicine, and §Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and ¶Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mujugira
authors.forename: Meei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Selke
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Drolette
authors.forename: Amalia S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Magaret
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009055:Mouth / Q000821:virology*; D010413:Penis / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012648:Self Care; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina / Q000821:virology*; D017201:Virus Shedding; D055544:beta-Globins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D055544:beta-Globins