Acceptability of Self-Taken Vaginal Swabs and First-Catch Urine Samples for the Diagnosis of Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae With an Amplified DNA Assay in Young Women Attending a Public Health Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic

Abstract

Using SVS combined with FCU can be an important enhancing tool in public health approaches. Acceptability among potential patients is high, enabling the noninvasive detection of STDs that would otherwise remain undetected and untreated.

Self-Sampling in the Diagnosis of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidosis

“…Several studies have shown that patients are in general satisfied with self-sampling [7Y9]. It is easy to perform, can be done in full privacy, and is well accepted [7,8,10]. None of our patients reported complaints pertaining to the vaginal self-sampling procedure.…”

Ease, Comfort, and Performance of the HerSwab Vaginal Self-Sampling Device for the Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

“…8 Previous evaluations of vaginal self-collection have demonstrated a high prevalence of CT infection among young, sexually active women in both clinical and nontraditional settings. 8,9 Studies assessing acceptability for vaginal self-sampling have previously demonstrated high agreement between self-collected vaginal (SCV) and physician-collected vaginal (PCV) samples for the detection of CT and NG infections, with participants reporting high levels of acceptability, ease, and comfort during the selfcollection process. [10][11][12] Despite widespread evidence on the diagnostic effectiveness of vaginal self-sampling for the detection of STI's using nucleic acid amplification tests, [13][14][15] there is a growing need to evaluate self-collection devices for ease and comfort, particularly for home-based applications.…”

Self‐obtained vaginal swabs for PCR chlamydia testing: A practical alternative

“…This finding is consistent with preference studies conducted in other countries. 9,15,16 Participants were not asked their reasons for opting for one method over the other, but women in previous studies have cited uncertainty over whether self-swabs are a reliable method of detection, fear of 'doing it wrong', or wanting to discuss other health concerns with the clinician (such as a urinary tract infection) as reasons for choosing a clinician-taken sample. 8,15 Authors of those studies recommended the provision of clear and simple instructions along with assurance that nothing can go wrong.…”

“…14 Research into the acceptability by women of different specimen collection methods for STI testing has demonstrated that self-sampling is acceptable to patients in a range of clinical and cultural settings internationally. 8,9,12,15,16 To date, no data have been published relating to use of this collection method in New Zealand's unique population.…”

“…7 Although many factors contribute to low rates of testing, having to undergo a pelvic examination by a clinician has been identified as one of the barriers to testing for women. 8,9 Nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAT) such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are considered optimal for the detection of genital chlamydia infection. Using PCR testing, STIs can be diagnosed from a variety of specimens including clinician-obtained endocervical swabs and self-obtained samples such as first-catch urine (FCU) and vaginal specimens.…”