Will COVID-19 Be the Tipping Point for Primary HPV Self-sampling?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Will COVID-19 Be the Tipping Point for Primary HPV Self-sampling?

AU - Lim, Anita W W

N1 - Funding Information: This article is dedicated to the memory of Louise Cadman—a self-sampling trailblazer who died too soon on November 7, 2020. A.W.W. Lim’s role is funded by Cancer Research UK grants awarded to Peter Sasieni (grant numbers C8162/A16892 and C8162/A27047). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 American Association for Cancer Research. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/2

Y1 - 2021/2

N2 - Self-sampling is poised to be a disruptor for cervical screening. So far, cancer screening has been a causality of COVID-19; however, the opposite may transpire for self-sampling. Self-sampling enables socially distanced cervical screening with an outreach that extends to underserved populations. As evidence mounts that self-sampling is noninferior to clinician-taken samples, the focus for self-sampling is now as a primary screening option for all women. Now, we have evidence from a modeling study (using Australia as an exemplar) to suggest that program effectiveness with primary self-sampling would be better than the current program, even if sensitivity is lower. Regulatory issues, suitable triage strategies, and clear communication about self-sampling are hurdles yet to be overcome. Nevertheless, existing evidence coupled with COVID-19 could be the tipping point for wider introduction of self-sampling.

AB - Self-sampling is poised to be a disruptor for cervical screening. So far, cancer screening has been a causality of COVID-19; however, the opposite may transpire for self-sampling. Self-sampling enables socially distanced cervical screening with an outreach that extends to underserved populations. As evidence mounts that self-sampling is noninferior to clinician-taken samples, the focus for self-sampling is now as a primary screening option for all women. Now, we have evidence from a modeling study (using Australia as an exemplar) to suggest that program effectiveness with primary self-sampling would be better than the current program, even if sensitivity is lower. Regulatory issues, suitable triage strategies, and clear communication about self-sampling are hurdles yet to be overcome. Nevertheless, existing evidence coupled with COVID-19 could be the tipping point for wider introduction of self-sampling.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85101306451&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1538

DO - 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1538

M3 - Article

C2 - 33547144

SN - 1055-9965

VL - 30

SP - 245

EP - 247

JO - Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology

JF - Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology

IS - 2

ER -