Andrew Mujugira1, Meei-Li Huang, Stacy Selke, Linda Drolette, Amalia S Magaret, Anna Wald. 1. From the *Departments of Global Health, †Epidemiology, ‡Laboratory Medicine, and §Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and ¶Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Self-sampling is a convenient, feasible, and acceptable way of collecting genital specimens, but the veracity of reported self-collection is difficult to verify. We investigated whether a host gene, β-globin, can be used to confirm adequacy of self-collected mucosal and skin genital specimens in studies of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. METHODS: Herpes simplex virus type 2-seropositive adults self-collected daily anogenital and oral swabs. Mucosal samples were tested for HSV DNA using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. A real-time Taqman polymerase chain reaction detecting the β-globin gene was used to quantify host cells. RESULTS: One hundred twelve participants collected 5559 genital and 2002 oral swabs. Sixty (54%) were women, 65% were HSV-2 seropositive, and 35% were HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive by Western blot. β-globin DNA was detected in 99% and 93% of swabs obtained from women and men, respectively. The quantity of β-globin DNA detected was significantly higher when HSV was present in genital swabs in women (0.1 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.001) and in men (0.6 log10 copies/mL; P < 0.001), but not in oral swabs in women (0.2 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.08) or men (0.0 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Human β-globin DNA detection rate was high, and the quantity obtained significantly increased with genital, but not oral HSV shedding. The high rate of β-globin DNA detection is consistent with high adherence to study procedures in longitudinal studies of genital herpes shedding.
BACKGROUND: Self-sampling is a convenient, feasible, and acceptable way of collecting genital specimens, but the veracity of reported self-collection is difficult to verify. We investigated whether a host gene, β-globin, can be used to confirm adequacy of self-collected mucosal and skin genital specimens in studies of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. METHODS:Herpes simplex virus type 2-seropositive adults self-collected daily anogenital and oral swabs. Mucosal samples were tested for HSV DNA using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. A real-time Taqman polymerase chain reaction detecting the β-globin gene was used to quantify host cells. RESULTS: One hundred twelve participants collected 5559 genital and 2002 oral swabs. Sixty (54%) were women, 65% were HSV-2 seropositive, and 35% were HSV-1 and HSV-2 seropositive by Western blot. β-globin DNA was detected in 99% and 93% of swabs obtained from women and men, respectively. The quantity of β-globin DNA detected was significantly higher when HSV was present in genital swabs in women (0.1 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.001) and in men (0.6 log10 copies/mL; P < 0.001), but not in oral swabs in women (0.2 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.08) or men (0.0 log10 copies/mL; P = 0.70). CONCLUSIONS:Human β-globin DNA detection rate was high, and the quantity obtained significantly increased with genital, but not oral HSV shedding. The high rate of β-globin DNA detection is consistent with high adherence to study procedures in longitudinal studies of genital herpes shedding.
Authors: Jared M Baeten; Lara B Strick; Aldo Lucchetti; William L H Whittington; Jorge Sanchez; Robert W Coombs; Amalia Magaret; Anna Wald; Lawrence Corey; Connie Celum Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2008-12-15 Impact factor: 5.226
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