by Michael Carter
Self-sampling for sexually transmitted infections in the rectum and throat is just as accurate as testing performed by a healthcare worker, investigators from Leeds report in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. This is based on a study that involved women and gay men. They found that rectal and throat self-sampling was equal in accuracy to sampling by healthcare workers. Self-sampling also had cost-saving potential, especially when performed at home.
A large number of rectal infections were identified in individuals who did not report a history of anal sex. The investigators, led by Dr Janet Wilson of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, therefore recommend screening both women and gay men for rectal and throat infections irrespective of reported sexual activity.
“We demonstrated good concordance between the clinician and self-taken samples with no difference in diagnostic accuracy,” write the authors. “As sexual history does not identify those with extragenital infections, our study strongly supports the existing evidence for universal sampling in both men who have sex with men and females undergoing chlamydia and gonorrhea testing.” Read more via AIDSmap
Wilson JD et al. Swab-yourself trial with economic monitoring and testing for infections collectively (SYSTEMATIC): Part 1. A diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness, study comparing clinician-taken versus self-taken rectal and pharyngeal samples for the diagnosis of gonorrhoea and chlamydia. Clinical Infectious Diseases, published online ahead of print 2 September 2020.
Kojima N et al. Patients may accurately self-collect pharyngeal and rectal specimens for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis infection: but is there benefit? Clinical Infectious Diseases, published online ahead of print 2 September 2020.