Self-Sampling Accurate for Detecting HPV

A new user-friendly device allows women to obtain a sample of cells from the cervix at home for later testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV). These cells were found to be as effective as samples collected by a gynecologist.

A study reported in the July 2006 issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology indicated that self-obtained samples taken by a novel device are highly representative of the high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) status of the cervix. Women who had previously had a positive cervical smear test for HPV as well as healthy volunteers took a self-obtained sample at home and then visited a gynecologist who took another sample using an endocervical brush. Both samples were then processed using the hrHPV test, and the self-obtained samples were shown to be equally sensitive in detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasma as those collected with an endocervical brush. The comparative study was performed by Chris J. L. M. Meijer and colleagues of the VU University Medical Center (Amsterdam, The Netherlands).

HPV is one of the main causes of cervical cancer. Treatment of cervical cancer in its early stages is considered to be fairly easy and without major side-effects. In the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom, 30% of women invited to participate in cervical screening programs do not attend and as a result, half of the cervical cancers diagnosed are in this group. A recent study polled more than 2,500 women who would not participate in screening programs and found that 30% of them actively responded when offered the option of a self-sampling method.

The report concluded, "In combination with hrHPV testing, the use of this device may have implications for increasing the attendance rate for cervical cancer screening.”




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VU University Medical Center