Preliminary Results of Feasibility and Acceptability of Self-Collection for Cervical Screening in Italian Women
Illari Sechi,
Narcisa Muresu,
Mariangela V. Puci,
Laura Saderi,
Arcadia Del Rio,
Andrea Cossu,
Maria R. Muroni,
Santina Castriciano,
Marianna Martinelli,
Clementina E. Cocuzza,
Giovanni Sotgiu,
Andrea Piana
Affiliations
Illari Sechi
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Narcisa Muresu
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Sassari, Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Mariangela V. Puci
Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Sassari-Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Laura Saderi
Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Sassari-Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Arcadia Del Rio
Biomedical Science PhD School, Biomedical Science Department, University of Sassari, Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Andrea Cossu
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Maria R. Muroni
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Santina Castriciano
Copan Italia SpA, 25125 Brescia, Italy
Marianna Martinelli
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Cadore 48 street, 20900 Monza, Italy
Clementina E. Cocuzza
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Cadore 48 street, 20900 Monza, Italy
Giovanni Sotgiu
Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Sassari-Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Andrea Piana
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, Padre Manzella 4 Street, 07100 Sassari, Italy
Background: Given the diagnostic accuracy of HPV-DNA tests in terms of self-collected samples, in order to implement self-sampling in cervical screening programs, the standardization of the pre-analytical phase, including decisions concerning the choice of medium, the volume of elution, and storage conditions, are necessary, in addition to understanding the potential factors involved in acceptability by women. On this basis, we carried out a cross-sectional study to assess (i) the stability of dry vaginal self-collected samples stored at room temperature for up to 4 weeks after elution in 2 mL of eNat® (Copan) medium, and (ii) the acceptability of self-collection in enrolled women. Methods: 185 women were enrolled in the LILT (Italian League Against Tumors) regional project. A self-sampling kit, including a dry FLOQSwab® (Copan), instructions for use, and a satisfaction questionnaire, were supplied for each woman and sent by mail to the laboratory. The HPV-DNA test was carried out using the Anyplex™ II HPV HR (Seegene) kit. To evaluate the specimen’s stability, 185 dry vaginal swabs were eluted in eNat®, a lyses-based molecular medium and tested for HPV detection at two different time points (p ® devices eluted in 2 mL of molecular medium. The analysis of the questionnaire showed a high acceptability of self-collection among women, although a high percentage preferred standard collection devices. Overall, our preliminary results support the adoption of self-collection in screening programs, even though further analyses should be performed to optimize and standardize protocols for HPV tests on self-samples, and educational campaigns are needed to adequately inform and increase responsiveness in a target population.
