7^th Asia Pacific STD and Infectious Diseases Congress

Biography

Biography: Sambri V

Abstract

Background: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are increasing worldwide. Innovative approaches are required to eliminate barriers to STIs testing such as home-based self-sampling for patients that are difficult to reach. Aim of this study was to evaluate performance of a new Home–based Self Vaginal FLOQSwab^TM (HBSVF, COPAN Italia, Brescia) in combination with a commercially available real-time PCR assay, Anyplex™ II STI-7 (Seegene, Seoul, Korea) which detects seven pathogens in a single reaction (Chlamydia trachomatis CT, Neisseria gonorrhoeae NG, Trichomonas vaginalis TV, Mycoplasma hominis MH, Mycoplasma genitalium MG, Ureaplasma urealyticum UU, and Ureaplasma parvum UP). Methodology: 78 asymptomatic employees of a private industry (aged 18 to 45 years) were voluntarily enrolled to STIs screening. The subjects answered to a standardize anonymized questionnaire regarding the easy of use of self collection. The swab was collected in a domestic context by following the detailed “how to use it” instructions. After collection,  swabs were shipped at room temperature to the laboratory in Pievesestina and processed within five weeks. The threshold cycle value (Ct) of a human genomic target (internal control, IC) and Ct of pathogens (CT, NG, TV, MH, MG, UU, UP) were taken as parameters to assess respectively, the efficiency of self-sampling and presence of any inhibitor effects, the stability of nucleic acids on dry swabs. Findings: no failure results were observed, the IC of all samples were amplified (average Ct 30). The real time PCR assay was able to identified 2/78 CT, 4/78 UU, 40/78 UP, 6/78 MH, 1/78 TV positive patients. No MG and NG positive patients were detected. Women reported self-collection with HBSVF easy and comfortable (100%). Conclusions: HBSVF device showed excellent recovery and stability of nucleic acid of STI pathogens up to 5 weeks at room temperature. The HBSVF is suitable for screening of STIs with real-time PCR assay.