Swabs in Screening for HPV (SWISH) (SWISH)

August 25, 2026 updated by: Kirby Institute

Randomised Controlled Trial of Self-collected vs Clinician-collected Anal Swabs for Anal Cancer Screening in People Living With HIV (PLHIV) in Australia

This trial aims to evaluate if self-collected anal swabs (SCS) can be used for anal cancer screening. Currently, only clinician-collected anal swabs (CSC) are recommended for anal cancer screening, and this may be a barrier for people to access screening. About 700 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia will randomly undergo a SCS followed by a CSC, or the other way around. Swabs will be tested for high-risk human Papillomavirus (HRHPV, which causes most anal cancer) and if the swab is positive for HRHPV, it will also be tested for pre-cancerous cells. The anal swabs will be tested for new biomarkers, "methylation", which might help us predict if precancerous lesions will develop into anal cancer. Everyone will be asked about their preferences for swab collection. If someone tests positive for HRHPV, they will receive further care. We expect that more screening options will result in more people being screened.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This multi-centred, order-randomised, controlled, cross-over clinical trial of self-versus clinician- collected swabs (SCS) and clinician-collected swabs (CCS), enrolling 700 participants across participating clinical trial recruitment sites in Australia. Participants will undertake SCS immediately followed by CCS, or vice versa, in an order-randomised manner with all participants completing both methods of collection. Both anal swabs will be tested for HRHPV, cytology, and methylation.

In the cervix, evidence suggests that a second swab taken on the same day may produce an inferior sample for cytology compared with the first swab. For this reason, studies comparing two swabs must control for the order of collection. In this trial, the order of the self-collected and clinician-collected anal swabs will be randomised. Randomisation will be stratified by clinical trial site.

Clinicians and participants will be unblinded to allow for swab collection; diagnostic and research laboratory staff, and research investigators who analyse the study outcomes will be blinded to both the order and method of collection for each swab.

Enrolment will continue until 700 participants have been randomised at a mixture of metropolitan and regional clinical trial sites. The study duration is 5 years.

Participants will be recruited via their regular HIV medical care at participating clinical trial sites.

Participants will be either gay or bisexual man (GBM) or trans women living with HIV aged 35 years or older, or all other people living with HIV aged 45 years or older. It is expected that most participants will be GBM, reflecting the Australian HIV epidemic but to ensure diversity, a minimum aggregate of 50 non- GBM living with HIV will be recruited per the inclusion criteria.

Participants who are HRHPV negative will exit the trial, unless they have been diagnosed with possible HSIL (pHSIL) or HSIL on cytology. Participants who are tested positive for HRHPV will be referred for high-resolution anoscopy (HRA). Participants who are tested negative for HRHPV but have pHSIL or HSIL diagnosed on cytology will be referred for high-resolution anoscopy (HRA).

During the HRA, the anoscopist will take small biopsies of any tissue suspected to have abnormal cells. The biopsy samples will undergo diagnostic histology.

Participants who are not diagnosed with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), will exit the trial. Participants who are diagnosed with HSIL but undergo treatment will exit the trial. Participants who are diagnosed with HSIL and do not receive treatment will have a 12-month Follow-up HRA then exit the trial.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

700

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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 Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Australia
    • New South Wales
      • Cudgen, New South Wales, Australia, 2487
        • North Coast Sexual Health and HIV Services, Tweed Valley Sexual Health Clinic
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • A/Professor Vincent Cornellise, MBBS, PhD
      • Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia, 2010
        • Taylor Square Private Clinic
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr Mark O'Reilly, MBBS
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2010
        • Holdsworth House Medical Practice
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr Mark Bloch, MBBS
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2010
        • St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Prof Richard Hillman, MBChB, PhD, FRCP
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
        • Sydney Sexual Health Centre
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr Rick Varma, MB ChB, MRCP
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2050
        • RPA Sexual Health
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr Rachel Burdon, MBBS, MPH
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2010
        • Easy Sydney Doctors
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr David Baker, MBBS
      • Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2150
        • Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Prof David Lewis, MBBS, PhD
    • South Australia
      • Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5000
        • Royal Adelaide Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Dr Michelle Thomas, MBBS, PhD
    • Victoria
      • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3053
        • Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
        • Contact:
          • Professor Jason Ong, MBBS, PhD
          • Phone Number: +613 93416200
          • Email: JOng@mshc.org.au
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Professor Jason Ong, MBBS, PhD

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Living with HIV.
  2. Gay, bisexual or other man who has sex with men or trans woman aged at least 35 years, or all other people aged at least 45 years.
  3. Able to commit to and undertake all study procedures.
  4. Willing and able to provide informed consent, in any of the following languages:

i. English. ii. Alternatively, use of the accredited translation service usually utilised in the participant's healthcare appointments.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Aged over 75 years of age at time of enrolment.
  2. Previously undergone an HRA.
  3. History of anal cancer and/or anal HSIL.
  4. Medically directed treatment (including topical treatments) to the anal canal in the preceding two weeks, which in the opinion of the consenting investigator could impact swab viability.
  5. Concurrent malignancy requiring systemic therapy, or medical conditions otherwise considered contraindicated to HRA by the delegated investigators.

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

  • Primary Purpose: Screening
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Arm A: Self-collected anal swab followed by clinician-collected anal swab
Cross over
Other: Self-collected anal swab
Each participant will be order-randomised to undergo a self-collected or clinician-collected anal swab first, with the alternate swab collected immediately afterwards. Both swab will be collected on the same day at the Baseline Visit.
Experimental: Arm B: Clinician-collected anal swab followed by self-collected anal swab
Cross over
Other: Self-collected anal swab
Each participant will be order-randomised to undergo a self-collected or clinician-collected anal swab first, with the alternate swab collected immediately afterwards. Both swab will be collected on the same day at the Baseline Visit.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Compare the sample validity of self-collected anal swabs with clinician-collected anal swabs, for HRHPV, in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure the percentage of self-collected anal swabs that are valid for HRHPV testing compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, as defined by internal control positivity.
At Baseline.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To evaluate sample quality for cytology of self-collected ana swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure the proportion of self-collected anal swabs that have satisfactory sample quality for cytology, compared with the proportion of clinician-collected anal swabs that have satisfactory sample quality.
At Baseline.
To compare the HRHPV findings of self-collected anal swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure between self-collected and clinician-collected swabs, the level of agreement between HRHPV testing results.
At Baseline.
To compare the HRHPV findings of self-collected anal swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure between self-collected and clinician-collected swabs, prevalence of any HRHPV.
At Baseline.
To compare the HRHPV findings of self-collected anal swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure between self-collected and clinician-collected swabs, prevalence of HPV16.
At Baseline.
To compare the cytology findings of self-collected anal swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, according to the modified Bethesda criteria in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure between self-collected and clinician-collected swabs according to modified Bethesda criteria, the level of agreement between cytology testing results.
At Baseline.
To compare the cytology findings of self-collected anal swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, according to the modified Bethesda criteria in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure between self-collected and clinician-collected swabs according to modified Bethesda criteria, prevalence of any cytological abnormality.
At Baseline.
To compare the cytology findings of self-collected anal swabs compared with clinician-collected anal swabs, according to the modified Bethesda criteria in the eligible cohort.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure between self-collected and clinician-collected swabs according to modified Bethesda criteria, prevalence of cytological HSIL.
At Baseline.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To evaluate participant perception of self-collected anal swabs as an alternative to clinician-collected anal swabs.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To measure distribution of participant responses on the acceptability and feasibility of self-collected anal swabs in future screening, measured via the Participant Reported Experience Measures instrument.
At Baseline.
To evaluate participant self-reported awareness of anal cancer, acceptability and willingness to complete self-collected swab for screening.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
Interview data will be evaluated using standard qualitative analysis, including thematic analysis.
At Baseline.
To evaluate use of methylation testing, compared with anal cytology as a triage test for anal HSIL.
Time Frame: At Baseline.
To compare sensitivity and specificity of methylation testing compared with anal cytology, for predicting histologically confirmed HSIL.
At Baseline.
To evaluate anal HSIL persistence at 12-month follow-up HRA, compared with Diagnostic HRA by Baseline anal swab methylation status.
Time Frame: From Baseline through to Month 15.
To measure the proportion of participants diagnosed with HSIL at Diagnostic HRA who have persistent HSIL at 12-month follow-up HRA, stratified by Baseline anal swab methylation status.
From Baseline through to Month 15.
To evaluate long-term anal cancer outcomes, for participants that consent to data linkage.
Time Frame: From Baseline until 5 years after the completion of the initial trial.
Evaluation of anal cancer diagnoses against HRHPV status, histological findings and methylation testing results.
From Baseline until 5 years after the completion of the initial trial.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Kirby Institute

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Dr Isobel Mary Poynten, MBBS, MPH, DCH PhD, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia
  • Principal Investigator: Scientia Prof Andrew Grulich, MBBS, PhD, FAFPHM, FAAHMS, The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia

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 (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 31, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 20, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 25, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

August 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

August 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 25, 2026

Last Verified

August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HEPP 202601
  • APP2047111 (Other Grant/Funding Number: National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia)

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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