Effect of the environment on home-based self-sampling kits for anal cancer screening. J Virol Methods 2022 Dec;310:114616
Date
09/13/2022Pubmed ID
36096333Pubmed Central ID
PMC9645463DOI
10.1016/j.jviromet.2022.114616Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85137795622 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 2 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Anal cancer incidence has increased in Western countries in recent decades and currently there are no consensus screening guidelines. Home-based self-sampling kits might facilitate screening for anal precancer/cancer but could require travel through postal mail where they may experience extreme temperatures or long transport times.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the environment on specimen adequacy for HPV genotyping of a mailed home-based self-sampling anal cancer screening kit.
STUDY DESIGN: The Prevent Anal Cancer (PAC) Study in Milwaukee, Wisconsin recruited men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons 25 years of age and older. Participants were randomized to receive a mailed self-sampling kit or attend a clinic for screening. Kits were insulated with foam and included a device to record temperature every twenty minutes. Samples were returned via mail and underwent HPV genotyping using the SPF10-LiPA25 assay which also detected human RNase P to determine specimen adequacy by qPCR. For the first 93 kits, logistic regression assessed associations between specimen inadequacy and temperature, freeze-thaw cycle, presence of fecal matter, and number of days in an uncontrolled environment.
RESULTS: Most specimens (92.5%) were adequate for HPV genotyping. Specimen inadequacy was not associated with temperature, freeze-thaw cycle, or transit time. Fecal matter was present more often in inadequate (71.4%) compared to adequate specimens (16.3%) (p = .004).
CONCLUSIONS: These real-world data from mailed home-based anal self-sampling kits found that environmental conditions did not affect specimen adequacy. While over 90% of specimens were adequate, presence of fecal matter predicted specimen inadequacy.
Author List
Nitkowski J, Giuliano A, Ridolfi T, Chiao E, Fernandez ME, Schick V, Swartz MD, Smith JS, Schneider EA, Brzezinski B, Nyitray AGAuthors
Alan Nyitray PhD Associate Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinTimothy J. Ridolfi MD, MS, FACS Associate Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Anus NeoplasmsEarly Detection of Cancer
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Male
Papillomaviridae
Papillomavirus Infections
Ribonuclease P
Sexual and Gender Minorities
