Novosanis and DDL Diagnostic Laboratory have investigated the detection of human papilloma virus (HPV) in first-void urine. The research showed that the sensitivity of the HPV test on first-void urine was similar to the sensitivity of the HPV test on a pap smear and a self-collected cervico-vaginal sample. The HPV types found in the three types of samples were highly similar.

The results of the study was presented last week at the ECCMID 2016 Congress (European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) in Amsterdam. Participation rates of women in cervical cancer screening could be increased by offering home-based self-sampling. Currently 1 in 4 women in Belgium and the Netherlands are not taking part in the screening programs.

The recent results of Novosanis and DDL Diagnostic Laboratory show a similar sensitivity of the HPV test of a home-collected first-void urine sample using the Colli-Pee device, a pap smear taken by a healthcare worker and a self-collected cervico-vaginal sample. In the tested population, all serious precursor stages of cervical cancer (CIN3+ lesions) were detected in all three types of samples using an HPV test. There was no difference between the first-void urine samples taken in the morning and those taken later during the day.

Annemiek Leeman, DDL Diagnostic Laboratory, commented: “HPV detection in morning and afternoon first-void urine samples seems feasible. Women were included in the Novosanis-DDL study upon an abnormal cervical swab. Sensitivity of the detection of HPV in women with pre-cancerous lesions who need follow-up proves to be similar to a physician-taken smear and to a brush-based self-collected sample. The use of Colli-Pee makes it easy to collect the relevant standardized first-void urine with urine preservative.”

“These first results are very important to Novosanis, since they show that an HPV test on a standardized first-void urine sample provides the same results as a pap smear taken by the healthcare worker. We hope to reach the women who are currently not participating in the screening programs by offering a non-invasive self-sampler.” says Vanessa Vankerckhoven, CEO Novosanis.