Mapping Evidence of Self-Sampling to Diagnose Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women: A Scoping Review

Overview

Journal Diagnostics (Basel)

Specialty Radiology

Date 2022 Jul 27

PMID 35892514

Authors

Ziningi N Jaya

Witness Mapanga

Brian van Niekerk

Thobeka Dlangalala

Kabelo Kgarosi

Mathias Dzobo

Delarise Mulqueeny

Tivani P Mashamba-Thompson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major global healthcare burden, disproportionately affecting women. Self-sampling interventions for diagnostic purposes have the potential to improve STI healthcare management and expand STI services. However, there is currently no published evidence of the global use of self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women. The main aim of this scoping review was to map evidence on the use of self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women.

Methodology: The methodology of this scoping review was guided by Arksey and O'Malley and Levac. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline (EBSCO), ProQuest, and Cochrane. For grey literature, a search was conducted in Open Grey, World Health Organization, Google, and conference proceedings and dissertations. All search results were screened and assessed for eligibility. Thereafter data from eligible studies was extracted and analysed. The quality of these studies was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018 version.

Results: A total of 770 articles were retrieved from databases and grey literature sources. A total of 44 studies were eligible for data extraction following title, abstract and full-text screening. Of the included studies, 63% presented evidence of research conducted in high-income countries and 37% presented evidence in low- and middle-income countries. Studies presented evidence on the following: feasibility of self-sampling in remote areas; acceptance and ease of use of self-sampling interventions; types of self-sampled specimens; pooled samples for diagnosing STIs; laboratory diagnostic assays for STI using self-sampled specimens; and self-testing of self-sampled specimens.

Conclusions: Self-sampling interventions are feasible and easy to use and, therefore, can improve STI management and treatment in women across various age groups and various access levels to good-quality healthcare. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence of self-sampling interventions designed according to user preferences. We recommend studies to collaborate with women to co-develop user-friendly self-sampling interventions to diagnose STIs in women.

Citing Articles

Understanding the preferences of young women in self-sampling interventions for sexually transmitted infection diagnosis: a discrete choice experimental protocol.

Jaya Z, Mapanga W, Mashamba-Thompson T BMJ Open. 2024; 14(9):e082981.

PMID: 39317498 PMC: 11423747. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082981.

Accuracy of self-collected versus healthcare worker collected specimens for diagnosing sexually transmitted infections in females: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Jaya Z, Mapanga W, Dlangalala T, Thembane N, Kgarosi K, Dzinamarira T Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):10496.

PMID: 38714714 PMC: 11076478. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61358-y.

References

Domeika M, Drulyte O . Use of PCR for the detection of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection on self-obtained mailed vaginal samples. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2000; 79(7):570-5. View

Chernesky M, Jang D, Gilchrist J, Elit L, Lytwyn A, Smieja M . Evaluation of a new APTIMA specimen collection and transportation kit for high-risk human papillomavirus E6/E7 messenger RNA in cervical and vaginal samples. Sex Transm Dis. 2014; 41(6):365-8. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000125. View

Chernesky M, Jang D, Gilchrist J, Randazzo J, Elit L, Lytwyn A . Ease and comfort of cervical and vaginal sampling for Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis with a new Aptima specimen collection and transportation kit. J Clin Microbiol. 2014; 52(2):668-70. PMC: 3911333. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02923-13. View

Flowers P, Vojt G, Pothoulaki M, Mapp F, Woode Owusu M, Estcourt C . Understanding the barriers and facilitators to using self-sampling packs for sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses: Thematic analyses for intervention optimization. Br J Health Psychol. 2022; 28(1):156-173. PMC: 10086833. DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12617. View

Pinto C, Niles J, Kaufman H, Marlowe E, Alagia D, Chi G . Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening in the U.S. Am J Prev Med. 2021; 61(3):386-393. PMC: 8131393. DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.03.009. View

Chandeying V, Lamlertkittikul S, Skov S . A comparison of first-void urine, self-administered low vaginal swab, self-inserted tampon, and endocervical swab using PCR tests for the detection of infection with Chlamydia trachomatis. Sex Health. 2005; 1(1):51-4. DOI: 10.1071/sh03009. View

Ogilvie G, Patrick D, Schulzer M, Sellors J, Petric M, Chambers K . Diagnostic accuracy of self collected vaginal specimens for human papillomavirus compared to clinician collected human papillomavirus specimens: a meta-analysis. Sex Transm Infect. 2005; 81(3):207-12. PMC: 1744976. DOI: 10.1136/sti.2004.011858. View

Kucinskiene V, Juseviciute V, Valiukeviciene S, Milasauskiene Z, Unemo M, Domeika M . Home sampling and pooling of vaginal samples are effective tools for genetic screening of Chlamydia trachomatis among high school female students in Lithuania. Scand J Infect Dis. 2007; 40(2):88-93. DOI: 10.1080/00365540701587002. View

Huppert J, Taylor R, St Cyr S, Hesse E, Reed J . Point-of-care testing improves accuracy of STI care in an emergency department. Sex Transm Infect. 2013; 89(6):489-94. DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2012-050994. View

10.

Harper D, Raymond M, Noll W, Belloni D, Duncan L, Cole B . Tampon samplings with longer cervicovaginal cell exposures are equivalent to two consecutive swabs for the detection of high-risk human papillomavirus. Sex Transm Dis. 2002; 29(11):628-36. DOI: 10.1097/00007435-200211000-00003. View

11.

van de Wijgert J, Altini L, Jones H, De Kock A, Young T, Williamson A . Two methods of self-sampling compared to clinician sampling to detect reproductive tract infections in Gugulethu, South Africa. Sex Transm Dis. 2006; 33(8):516-23. DOI: 10.1097/01.olq.0000204671.62529.1f. View

12.

Bethel A, Rogers M, Abbott R . Use of a search summary table to improve systematic review search methods, results, and efficiency. J Med Libr Assoc. 2021; 109(1):97-106. PMC: 7772975. DOI: 10.5195/jmla.2021.809. View

13.

Stewart C, Schoeman S, Booth R, Smith S, Wilcox M, Wilson J . Assessment of self taken swabs versus clinician taken swab cultures for diagnosing gonorrhoea in women: single centre, diagnostic accuracy study. BMJ. 2012; 345:e8107. PMC: 3520546. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.e8107. View

14.

Dommelen L, Dukers-Muijrers N, Van Tiel F, Brouwers E, Hoebe C . Evaluation of one-sample testing of self-obtained vaginal swabs and first catch urine samples separately and in combination for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by two amplified DNA assays in women visiting a sexually transmitted disease clinic. Sex Transm Dis. 2011; 38(6):533-5. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318205e435. View

15.

Van Der Pol B, Williams J, Taylor S, Cammarata C, Rivers C, Body B . Detection of Trichomonas vaginalis DNA by use of self-obtained vaginal swabs with the BD ProbeTec Qx assay on the BD Viper system. J Clin Microbiol. 2014; 52(3):885-9. PMC: 3957762. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02966-13. View

16.

Levy V, Blackmore C, Klausner J . Self-collection of specimens for nucleic acid-based diagnosis of pharyngeal, cervicovaginal, urethral, and rectal Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Methods Mol Biol. 2012; 903:407-18. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-937-2_28. View

17.

Van Der Pol B, Taylor S, Liesenfeld O, Williams J, Hook 3rd E . Vaginal swabs are the optimal specimen for detection of genital Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae using the Cobas 4800 CT/NG test. Sex Transm Dis. 2013; 40(3):247-50. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3182717833. View

18.

Knox J, Tabrizi S, Miller P, Petoumenos K, Law M, Chen S . Evaluation of self-collected samples in contrast to practitioner-collected samples for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis by polymerase chain reaction among women living in remote areas. Sex Transm Dis. 2002; 29(11):647-54. DOI: 10.1097/00007435-200211000-00006. View

19.

Tanaka M, Nakayama H, Sagiyama K, Haraoka M, Yoshida H, Hagiwara T . Evaluation of a new amplified enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in male urine, female endocervical swab, and patient obtained vaginal swab specimens. J Clin Pathol. 2000; 53(5):350-4. PMC: 1731197. DOI: 10.1136/jcp.53.5.350. View

20.

Tabrizi S, Fairley C, Cehn S, Giouzeppos O, Paterson B, Bowden F . Evaluation of patient-administered tampon specimens for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Sex Transm Dis. 2000; 27(3):133-7. DOI: 10.1097/00007435-200003000-00002. View