Feasibility of HPV Testing With Mail-delivered Sample Collection Kits

July 29, 2025 updated by: University of California, San Francisco

Persistent Oral HPV Among Diverse PLWH: A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Feasibility and Acceptability of Testing for Oral HPV DNA Infection With Mail-delivered Sample Collection Kits

People living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) have an estimated 1.6-6.0 times increased risk of developing oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) compared with individuals in the general population. 70% of OPCs are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), and PLWH also have an increased prevalence of oral HPV infection. Disparities by race/ethnicity also include a later stage of diagnosis and less frequent cancer-directed treatment for members of ethnic minority groups. There is little known regarding the racial/ethnic differences in oral HPV infection, persistence of oral HPV infection, or progression of oral HPV infection to OPC among PLWH. This is an observational, prospective cohort study to investigate the feasibility of alternative sample collection methods for HPV testing among PLWH.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

STUDY AIMS:

  1. To determine if oral HPV deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV DNA) results obtained from self-collected oral rinse and gargle samples (ORG) sent by mail agree with results obtained from ORG samples collected in a clinic setting, among race/ethnically diverse sexual minority men (SMM) living with HIV (LWH).
  2. To determine if oral HPV DNA results obtained from self-collected saliva samples applied to a Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) card sent by mail agree with results obtained from (1) ORG samples collected in a clinic setting, and (2) Home ORG, among race/ethnically diverse SMM-LWH.
  3. To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and comfort of receiving HPV DNA sample collection kits by mail, self-collecting samples, and returning samples by FedEx, among racially/ethnically diverse SMM-LWH.

OUTLINE:

Participants will provide two saliva samples (at the same time), complete surveys, and complete a single clinic visit. Follow-up will be between 7 and 10 days post initial sample collection.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

135

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • San Francisco, California, United States, 94143
        • Recruiting
        • University of California, San Francisco
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Alexandra Hernandez Levenston, MD, MPH

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults living with HIV (PLWH)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Over 35 years of age
  2. Member of a sexual or gender group considered sexual minority men (men who have sex with men, trans-women)
  3. Person living with HIV
  4. Willing and able to receive a package through United States (US) postal service
  5. Willing and able to return a package through FedEx
  6. Able to attend a clinic visit at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Mt. Zion campus

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Does not meet the above criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Samples from Persons Living With HIV (PLWH)
Participants will complete an online survey and receive a sample collection kit in the United States (US) mail. Two saliva samples will be obtained at home (one sample collected with two foam swabs and applied to a single FTA indicating card) and one oral rinse and gargle sample. Participants will complete a follow-up survey, and 7-10 days after the date of home sample collection, participants will visit the UCSF Anal Neoplasia Clinic, Research and Education (ANCRE) Clinic at Mt. Zion for a 15-minute clinic visit. During this clinic visit, participants will additionally complete one oral rinse and gargle sample.
Diagnostic test: Mail-based Saliva Sample Kit
Sent via United States Postal Service and returned via FedEx
Other Names:
  • Mail-based Specimen Sample Kit
Other: Study-related Surveys
Online surveys will be administered
Other Names:
  • Web-based Surveys

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Agreement in the detection of oral HPV DNA between the oral rinse and gargle (ORG) and the clinic sample
Time Frame: Up to 10 days
The agreement in the detection of oral HPV DNA between the oral rinse and gargle (ORG) sample collected at home and the sample collected at the clinic will be measured using kappa. The Kappa Coefficient, often denoted as κ (kappa), is a statistical measure used to assess the level of agreement between two events providing a way to quantify the extent to which the observed agreement exceeds what would be expected by chance alone. The Kappa Coefficient ranges from -1 to 1, where 1 indicates perfect agreement, 0 indicates no agreement beyond chance, and negative values suggest less agreement than would be expected by random chance. Substantial agreement is considered kappa (κ) at least ≥0.61
Up to 10 days
Agreement in the detection of oral HPV DNA between Flinders Technology Associates (FTA) sample collection card and both the ORG samples (Home and Clinic).
Time Frame: Up to 10 days
The agreement in the detection of oral HPV DNA between the sample collected and applied to an FTA sample collection card (FTA) and both the ORG samples (Home and Clinic). will be measured using kappa. The Kappa Coefficient, often denoted as κ (kappa), is a statistical measure used to assess the level of agreement between two events providing a way to quantify the extent to which the observed agreement exceeds what would be expected by chance alone. The Kappa Coefficient ranges from -1 to 1, where 1 indicates perfect agreement, 0 indicates no agreement beyond chance, and negative values suggest less agreement than would be expected by random chance. Substantial agreement is considered kappa (κ) at least ≥0.61
Up to 10 days
Percentage of participants with positive oral human papillomavirus infection
Time Frame: Up to 10 days
The prevalence of oral high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infection will be determined by the percentage of participants with a positive result for human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid (HPV DNA) after testing
Up to 10 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Collaborators

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Alexandra Hernandez Levenston, MD, MPH, University of California, San Francisco

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 17, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 18, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 18, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

July 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 1, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 29, 2025

Last Verified

July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 240514
  • R03DE033930 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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