HPV genotype-specific distribution and attributable risk in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in a referral population with a history of LSIL.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV tests (Roche) were previously ascertained for triaging an LSIL referral population [1]. As part of this study, genotype-specific distribution and attributable risk of high-risk (HR)-HPV in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) were determined. METHODS: Archived cervical specimens in ThinPrep PreservCyt (Hologic Inc) from the LSIL referral population (n= 533) were genotyped using the Anyplex II HPV HR test (Anyplex, Seegene Inc). Since the study specimens had been in storage in ambient temperature for 31-47 months since collection, Anyplex results were compared with that of the initial cobas testing of fresh specimens to validate the suitability and stability of specimens for the present study. RESULTS: Overall, Anyplex test was positive in 63% (336/533) vs. 55.7% (297/533) for cobas test. Anyplex test performed identical to cobas test identifying 93.2% (82/88) of ⩾CIN2/adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). Anyplex test detected genotypes 16/18 in 15.7% (36/230) ⩽CIN1 vs. 45.5% (40/88) ⩾CIN2/AIS; the corresponding figures were 13.5% (31/230) and 45.5% (40/48) for the cobas test. Genotype 16 showed increasing attribution, 13.2% in CIN1, 27.1% in CIN2 and 40% in CIN3/AIS. Of the 12 other high-risk (OHR) types collectively identified by cobas, Anyplex test specifically detected, in decreasing order, genotypes 51, 31, 35, 56, 39, and 45 as the most frequent types, often in multiple-type infections, in 64.8% ⩾CIN2. Regardless, estimated attribution was evident for each of the 12 OHR types in ⩾CIN2. Multiple-type infections were more frequent than single-type infections in all CIN grades. CONCLUSIONS: Attributable risk of all HR-HPV genotypes targeted by both Anyplex and cobas tests was evident in ⩾CIN2/AIS Testing for these genotypes in HPV primary cervical screening and cytology triage could identify those at increased risk of cervical cancer and also be beneficial in the management of LSIL referral populations.

Comparison of CINtec PLUS cytology and cobas HPV test for triaging Canadian patients with LSIL cytology referred to colposcopy: A two-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVES & METHODS: CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV tests were compared for triaging patients referred to colposcopy with a history of LSIL cytology in a 2-year prospective study. Cervical specimens were tested once at enrollment, and test positivity rates determined. Test performance was ascertained with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) and CIN3 or worse (CIN3+) serving as clinical endpoints. RESULTS: In all ages, (19-76 years, n= 598), 44.3% tested CINtec PLUS positive vs. 55.4% HPV positive (p< 0.001). To detect CIN2+ (n= 99), CINtec PLUS was 81.8% sensitive vs. 93.9% for HPV testing (p= 0.009); genotype 16/18-specific sensitivity was 46.5%. Specificity was 52.9% vs. 36.6%, respectively (p< 0.001). In all ages, to detect CIN3+ (n= 44), sensitivity was 93.2% for both tests; genotype 16/18-specific sensitivity was 52.3%. Specificity was 48.4% for CINtec PLUS vs. 31.1% for HPV testing (p< 0.001). In patients < 30 years, CINtec was 91.7% sensitive vs 95.8% for HPV testing (p= 0.549). CONCLUSIONS: CINtec PLUS or cobas HPV test could serve as a predictor of CIN3+ with high sensitivity in patients referred to colposcopy with a history of LSIL regardless of age while significantly reducing the number of LSIL referral patients requiring further investigations and follow-up in colposcopy clinics.

Multicenter Comparison of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests for the Diagnosis of Rectal and Oropharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infections.

Research using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) have repeatedly found rectal and oropharyngeal infections with Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae to be common and potentially more difficult to treat than genital infections. Unfortunately, public health and patient care efforts have been hampered by the lack of FDA-cleared NAATs with claims for anorectal or oropharyngeal samples. At the time of the initiation of this study, no commercially available assays had these claims. We formed a novel partnership among academic institutions and diagnostic manufacturers to address this public health need. From May 2018 through August 2019, we recruited 1108 women, 1256 men, and 26 transgender persons each of whom provided 3 anal and 3 oropharyngeal swab specimens. The 3 anal swabs were pooled into a single transport tube as were the 3 oropharyngeal swabs. The performance of each of three study assays was estimated by comparison to the composite result and relative to one another. Percent positivity for chlamydia was 5.9 and 1.2% from anal and oropharyngeal specimens, respectively, compared to 4.2 and 4.1% for gonorrhea. Sensitivity for chlamydia detection ranged from 81.0 to 95.1% and 82.8 to 100% for anal and oropharyngeal specimens, respectively. Gonorrhea sensitivity ranged from 85.9 to 99.0% and 74.0 to 100% for anal and oropharyngeal samples, respectively. Specificity estimates were ≥ 98.9% for all assays, organisms, and sample types. Although there was heterogeneity between sensitivity estimates, these assays offer better ability to detect extragenital infections than culture and potential solutions for providing appropriate sexual health care for populations in which these infections are of concern.

Comparison of Alinity m HPV and cobas HPV assays on cervical specimens in diverse storage media.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the concordance of high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) testing with the Alinity assay on cervical samples collected with diverse collection/storage protocols (ThinPrep, SurePath, Cervicollect) and to assess inter-assay concordance of HR-HPV testing of cervical cell specimens with Alinity m HR HPV assay (Alinity) vs cobas® 4800 HPV assay (cobas). METHODS: Specimens were obtained from 560 women attending a Women's Health clinic. Two specimens were obtained from each woman with combinations of two of the three collection devices and aliquots were tested by the two assays. RESULTS: Alinity showed an agreement of 93.9%, Kappa = 0.89 (263/280) between ThinPrep and SurePath specimens; 97.5%, Kappa = 0.95 (347/356) and 92.9%, Kappa = 0.85 (104/112) between ThinPrep and SurePath aliquots taken before or after cytology processing, respectively. Cervi-Collect specimens showed an agreement of 94.6%, Kappa = 0.89 (265/280) with ThinPrep specimens. Compared to cobas, Alinity showed agreements of 94.3%, Kappa = 0.88 (395/419) and 91.8%, Kappa = 0.82 (257/280) between ThinPrep and SurePath specimens, respectively. Alinity and cobas detected genotypes 16/18 and other high-risk HPV types at similar rates and showed similar correlations with cytology grades. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to cobas, Alinity performed equally well for detecting HPV in cervical specimens obtained with ThinPrep and SurePath. The Cervi-Collect device compared well to the other collection methods. Alinity is a reliable assay for simultaneous detection of HPV-16/18 and other high-risk genotypes in cervical specimens.

Workflow and Throughput of Commercial Assays to Detect Mycoplasma genitalium and Macrolide Resistance-Mediating Mutations.

ABSTRACT: Aptima Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) required the shortest and STD6 the longest time to detect MG in clinical samples. ResistancePlus MG detected MG and macrolide resistance-mediating mutations simultaneously. Times were influenced by specimen numbers. M. genitalium positives from the other 2 assays required increased time for macrolide resistance-mediating mutation sequencing.

Comparison of Assays for the Diagnosis of Mycoplasma genitalium and Macrolide Resistance Mutations in Self-Collected Vaginal Swabs and Urine.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to compare commercial assays on clinical specimens for Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) detection and macrolide resistance mutation (MRM) frequency. METHODS: Three self-collected vaginal swabs (VS) and a first-void urine (FVU) from 300 consented women were tested by Aptima MG (AMG), ResistancePlus MG (RPMG) and Seeplex STD6 ACE (STD6) for detection of MG. Aptima MG and STD6 MG positives were tested for MRM using MG 23S rRNA polymerase chain reaction with Sanger sequencing (23SMGSS) compared with MRM determination in the RPMG assay. Unique AMG positives were tested with confirmatory Aptima assays. RESULTS: M. genitalium prevalence ranged from 7.1% to 19.7%, influenced by the assay used and the specimen tested. Overall agreements for MG detection were 96.3% (κ = 0.91) for VS and 93.3% (κ = 0.72) for FVU between AMG and RPMG with lower agreements with STD6. Using a rotating reference standard, sensitivities on VS and FVU were 100% and 100% for AMG, 100% and 83.3% for RPMG, and 54.2% and 48.4% for STD6. Specificities were high for RPMG and STD6 and AMG detected extra positives, most of which were confirmed. Macrolide resistance mutation frequency rates testing VS and FVU were 50% (24/48) and 58.1% (18/31) by RPMG compared with 52.5% (31/59) and 23.5% (12/51) by 23SMGSS. MRM overall agreements between RPMG and 23SMGSS were 73.2% (κ = 0.41) for VS and 76.0% (κ = 0.52) for FVU. CONCLUSIONS: Aptima MG detected more cases of MG infections. ResistancePlus MG detection was more effective on VS than on FVU. Seeplex STD6 ACE performance was inferior. The MRM detection component of RPMG agreed with results from 23SMGSS most of the time.

CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV testing for triaging Canadian women referred to colposcopy with a history of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion: Baseline findings.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: CINtec PLUS and cobas HPV tests were assessed for triaging women referred to colposcopy with a history of LSIL cytology. Both tests were performed at baseline using ThinPrep cervical specimens and biopsy confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+) served as the clinical endpoint. RESULTS: In all ages, (19-76 years, n = 600), 44.3% (266/600) tested CINtec PLUS positive vs. 55.2% (331/600) HPV positive (p = 0.000). Based on 224 having biopsies, sensitivity to detect CIN2+ (n = 54) was 81.5% (44/54) for CINtec PLUS vs. 94.4% (51/54) for HPV testing (p = 0.039); specificities were, 52.4% (89/170) vs. 44.1% (75/170), respectively (p = 0.129). In women ≥30 years (n = 386), 41.2% (159/386) tested CINtec PLUS positive vs. 50.8% (196/386) HPV positive (p = 0.008). Based on 135 having biopsies, sensitivity to detect CIN2+ (n = 24) was 95.8% (23/24) for both CINtec PLUS and HPV tests; specificities were, 55.0% (61/111) vs. 50.5% (56/111), respectively (p = 0.503). CONCLUSIONS: For women referred to colposcopy with a history of LSIL cytology, CINtec PLUS or cobas HPV test could serve as a predictor of CIN2+ with high sensitivity, particularly in women ≥30 years. Either test can significantly reduce the number of women requiring further investigations and follow up in colposcopy clinics.

Performance of AmpFire HPV assay on neck cervical lymph node aspirate and oropharyngeal samples.

Early determination of high-risk human papillomaviruses causing oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) may influence treatment. The objectives were to evaluate the performance of a new rapid isothermal nucleic acid amplification point of care HPV test (AmpFire HPV) on fine needle neck aspirates (FNA) of cervical lymph nodes and oropharyngeal swabs and saliva (OPS) which had been previously tested by the cobas HPV assay. The comparison was performed on 56 FNA and 81 OPS. The two assays showed strong agreement (94.6 %, K = 0.88) on FNA and fair agreement (65.4 %, K = 0.34) on OPS. AmpFire HPV performed on FNA demonstrated a sensitivity of 76.7 % and specificity of 81.8 % for the prediction of p16 antigens in OPSCC with results available in 1.5 h.

Mycoplasma genitalium, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae Detected With Aptima Assays Performed on Self-Obtained Vaginal Swabs and Urine Collected at Home and in a Clinic.

Self-obtained vaginal swabs, first-void urine and pooled specimens were collected at home and in a clinic. Percent prevalence and collection site concordance was 30.3 and 100 for Mycoplasma genitalium (74.4% azithromycin resistant) 15.1 and 96.7 for Chlamydia trachomatis and 6.6 and 100 for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (27% ciprofloxacin-resistant).

Alternate Nucleic Acid Targets Can Be Used To Create a Composite Standard To Evaluate Clinical Performance of Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests.

Evaluating the clinical performance of a new nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) for Mycoplasma genitalium, B. Kirkconnell, B. Weinbaum, K. Santos, T. Le Nguyen, et al. (J Clin Microbiol 57:e00264-19, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00264-19) created 3 alternate NAATs that detected other unique M. genitalium gene targets. Lacking a reference standard, they used the consensus of results with those 3 NAATs as the comparator. This approach could be a new paradigm to evaluate new NAATs when there is no previously defined reference standard.

Treatment of first-void urine with Aptima Transfer Solution increases detection of high-risk HPV E6/E7 mRNA.

Because of its non-invasive nature urine testing may enable increased screening for HPV in women who avoid cervical sampling. Comparisons have shown fewer HPV positives in urine. The objectives were to compare first-void urine (FVU) treated with proteinase K (PK) to untreated FVU and cervical samples collected from women attending a colposcopy clinic using an Aptima HPV mRNA assay, and comparing the HPV rates to cytology and pathology results. Female FVU (n = 433) was treated with Aptima Transfer Solution (ATS) containing PK within 24 h or after months of storage. Untreated female FVU samples were HPV-positive in 20.8-27.6% compared to 34.4-45.6% of ATS-treated FVU and 44.9-48.4% of PreservCyt samples. Good overall agreement for HR-HPV detection between ATS-FVU and PreservCyt was observed (81.1%; k 0.63). Validation of ATS treatment was performed on 356 male FVU, detecting 6.7% HPV positive compared to 3.4% of untreated samples (p = 0.059). Although HPV presence in ATS FVU and PreservCyt samples were similar, significantly more women with abnormal cervical cytology and histopathology were HPV-positive in cervical specimens than in ATS-treated FVU.

Comparative performance of human papillomavirus messenger RNA versus DNA screening tests at baseline and 48 months in the HPV FOCAL trial.

BACKGROUND: HPV FOCAL is a randomized trial comparing high-risk HPV [Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2)] vs. liquid-based cytology (LBC) for primary cervical screening. OBJECTIVE: The present study objective was to compare Aptima HPV (AHPV) and HC2 assay performance at the intervention arm baseline and 48 mo. screens in relation to the rates of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or worse (CIN2+). STUDY DESIGN: Women enrolled after December 2010 (n = 3475) were screened at baseline with both AHPV and HC2 (AHPV was blinded). Women with CIN2+ exited the trial; HC2 negative (-) women and those HC2 positive (+) with

Trichomonas vaginalis Prevalence and Correlates in Women and Men Attending STI Clinics in Western Canada.

Trichomonas vaginalis prevalence (2.8%) in female sexually transmitted infection clinic attendees was within the prevalence of chlamydia (5.8%) and gonorrhea (1.8%), while being very low for male attendees (0.2%). Correlates among women were indigenous ethnicity, other ethnicity, and being symptomatic.

Detection of cervical precancerous lesions with Aptima HPV assays using SurePath preservative fluid specimens.

SurePath specimens from women referred to colposcopy were treated with Aptima Transfer Solution (ATS) before testing in Aptima HPV (AHPV) and Aptima HPV 16, 18/45 (AHPV-GT) assays. Untreated SurePath specimens were tested with the cobas HPV test. PreservCyt specimens were assessed for cytology and tested with AHPV. High-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions served as the reference standard. Excellent agreement (95.5%; k=0.91) was observed for ATS-treated SurePath specimens between Tigris and Panther systems and between the PreservCyt and ATS-treated SurePath specimens (91.1%, k=0.81) with the AHPV assay on Tigris. Agreement between the AHPV and cobas assays with SurePath specimens was substantial (89.9%, k=0.80). AHPV sensitivity for CIN2+(n=147) was 91.2% for SurePath and PreservCyt. Cobas HPV sensitivity was 93.9% for SurePath specimens. AHPV testing of SurePath specimens was more specific (59.4%) than cobas (54.7%) (p<0.001). Detection and genotyping showed similar absolute and relative risks. ATS-treated SurePath specimens tested with AHPV and AHPV-GT assays showed similar performance with greater specificity than cobas HPV on SurePath specimens. Similar overall results were seen using a CIN3 disease endpoint.

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Mycoplasma genitalium among STI clinic attendees in Western Canada: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and correlates of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection among men and women, determine the prevalence of gene mutations conferring resistance and compare test performance of female specimen types. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on specimens collected for gonorrhoea (NG, Neisseria gonorrhoeae) and chlamydia (CT, Chlamydia trachomatis) among male and female Alberta STI clinic attendees using the M. genitalium transcription-mediated amplification-research use only test. Positive specimens were sequenced for 23SrRNA, parC and gyrA genes. Gender-stratified analysis compared test results using χ2 or Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression. Female endocervical and urine specimens were compared. RESULTS: A total of 2254 individuals were tested; 53.8% (n=1212) were male. Male prevalence of MG was 5.3%; CT was 5.9% and NG was 1.8%. Correlates of male infection were a non-gonococcal urethritis diagnosis and NG coinfection. MG prevalence for women was 7.2%; CT was 5.8% and NG was 1.8%. Correlates of female infection were younger age, Indigenous/Other ethnicity and CT/NG coinfection. Nearly two-thirds of eligible specimens had mutations associated with macrolide resistance and 12.2% of specimens had a parC mutation signifying possible moxifloxacin resistance. There was high concordance (98.1%) of results between urine and endocervical swabs. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of MG relative to CT and NG supports the incorporation of MG testing into routine sexually transmissible infection screening. The high rate of resistance to macrolides and moxifloxacin raises concerns about treatment options. The good concordance of results between urine and endocervical swabs supports the use of female urine specimens for testing.

Urinary Meatal Swabbing Detects More Men Infected With Mycoplasma genitalium and Four Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Than First Catch Urine.

Urinary meatal swabs compared with urine showed higher infection rates for Mycoplasma genitalium (15.3% vs 12.6%, P = 0.035), Chlamydia trachomatis (11.3% vs 9.3%, P = 0.039), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (1.4% vs 1.1%, P = 1.00), Trichomonas vaginalis (8.0% vs 1.7%, P < 0.001), and high-risk human papillomavirus (5.9% vs 3.4%, P = 0.078) respectively.