Introduction/Background*Many countries worldwide have recommended testing high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types for primary cervical cancer screening. New easy and patient-friendly screening methods for identifying high-risk HPV types are under evaluation and may facilitate the use of HPV testing in low-resource countries.

Aim To compare the accuracy of detecting high-risk HPV DNA on dried cervicovaginal secretions on filter paper to the standard technique.

Methods our study was a prospective diagnostic study where we recruited 40 patients with abnormal pap smear cytology. Three samples were collected from each patient, 1) self-collected cervicovaginal sample on filter paper, 2) cervical sample on filter paper collected by a physician, and 3) a cytobrush sample in specimen transport medium (STM) for analysis. Qualitative testing for high-risk HPV DNA was done using the hybrid capture technique. Sensitivity, specificity and NPV and PPV, and agreement of new method with the standard procedure were calculated.

Result(s)*Of the 40 patients, 32.5% had low-grade lesions, and 67.5% had high-grade lesions on the pap smear. The overall prevalence of High-risk HPV in the sample was 67.5%. Detection of high-risk HPV DNA in the cervical sample collected on filter paper by the physician had a sensitivity of 77.8%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100%, and negative predictive value of 68.4%, taking STM as the gold standard. The patient‘s self-sampling of cervicovaginal secretions on filter paper also showed similar results, with sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 100%, PPV 100%, and NPV 59.1%. The agreement between the STM method and physician collected cervical sample on filter paper was substantial, kappa: 0.695(P= <0.001) and STM method and Self-collected samples on filter paper were moderate, kappa:0.565(P=<0.001). Most of the patients reported self-collection was acceptable (100%), not painful (95%), and not embarrassing (95%). But when asked whom they should prefer to do the test majority wanted the doctor to do it (95%).

Conclusion*Our study showed that dried cervicovaginal samples collected by the patient on filter paper to detect High-Risk HPV could be done with acceptable accuracy and cost. It can be used as an alternative STM method for screening cervical cancer where a more uncomplicated, cost-effective technique may be better.