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Pillay N, Mzobe GF, Letsoalo M, Kama AO, Mtshali A, Magini SN, Singh N, Govender V, Samsunder N, Naidoo M, Moodley D, Baxter C, Archary D, Ngcapu S. Performance of Softcup® menstrual cup and vulvovaginal swab samples for detection and quantification of genital cytokines. J Immunol Methods 2024; 528:113656. [PMID: 38447801 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2024.113656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Cytokines are important mediators of immunity in the female genital tract, and their levels may be associated with various reproductive health outcomes. However, the measurement of cytokines and chemokines in vaginal fluid samples may be influenced by a variety of factors, each with the potential to affect the sensitivity and accuracy of the assay, including the interpretation and comparison of data. We measured and compared cytokine milieu in samples collected via Softcup® menstrual cup versus vulvovaginal swabs. One hundred and eighty vulvovaginal swabs from CAPRISA 088 and 42 Softcup supernatants from CAPRISA 016 cohorts of pregnant women were used to measure the concentrations of 28 cytokines through multiplexing. Cytokines measured in this study were detectable in each of the methods however, SoftCup supernatants showed consistently, higher detectability, expression ratios, and mean concentration of cytokines than vulvovaginal swabs. While mean concentrations differed, the majority of cytokines correlated between SoftCup supernatants and vulvovaginal swabs. Additionally, there were no significant differences in a number of participants between the two sampling methods for the classification of genital inflammation. Our findings suggest that SoftCup supernatants and vulvovaginal swab samples are suitable for the collection of genital specimens to study biological markers of genital inflammatory response. However, the Softcup menstrual cup performs better for the detection and quantification of soluble biomarkers that are found in low concentrations in cervicovaginal fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nashlin Pillay
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Gugulethu Favourate Mzobe
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Marothi Letsoalo
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Asavela Olona Kama
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Andile Mtshali
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Stanley Nzuzo Magini
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Nikkishia Singh
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Vani Govender
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Natasha Samsunder
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Megeshinee Naidoo
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Dhayendre Moodley
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Clinical Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Baxter
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Derseree Archary
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Sinaye Ngcapu
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa; Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
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Samsunder N, Lustig G, Ngubane S, Maseko TG, Rambaran S, Ngcapu S, Magini SN, Lewis L, Cawood C, Kharsany ABM, Karim QA, Karim SA, Naidoo K, Sivro A. Field evaluations of four SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests during SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant wave in South Africa. Diagn Progn Res 2023; 7:14. [PMID: 37491317 PMCID: PMC10369830 DOI: 10.1186/s41512-023-00151-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid antigen tests detecting SARS-CoV-2 were shown to be a useful tool in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we report on the results of a prospective diagnostic accuracy study of four SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests in a South African setting. METHODS Rapid antigen test evaluations were performed through drive-through testing centres in Durban, South Africa, from July to December 2021. Two evaluation studies were performed: nasal Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device (Abbott) was evaluated in parallel with the nasopharyngeal Espline SARS-CoV-2 Ag test (Fujirebio), followed by the evaluation of nasal RightSign COVID-19 Antigen Rapid test Cassette (Hangzhou Biotest Biotech) in parallel with the nasopharyngeal STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag test (SD Biosensor). The Abbott RealTime SARS-CoV-2 assay was used as a reference test. RESULTS Evaluation of Panbio and Espline Ag tests was performed on 494 samples (31% positivity), while the evaluation of Standard Q and RightTest Ag tests was performed on 539 samples (13.17% positivity). The overall sensitivity for all four tests ranged between 60 and 72% with excellent specificity values (> 98%). Sensitivity increased to > 80% in all tests in samples with cycle number value < 20. All four tests performed best in samples from patients presenting within the first week of symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS All four evaluated tests detected a majority of the cases within the first week of symptom onset with high viral load.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Samsunder
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Gila Lustig
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Slindile Ngubane
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Thando Glory Maseko
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Santhuri Rambaran
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Sinaye Ngcapu
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Stanley Nzuzo Magini
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Lara Lewis
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
| | - Cherie Cawood
- Epicentre AIDS Risk Management (Pty) Limited, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ayesha B M Kharsany
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Quarraisha Abdool Karim
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York City, USA
| | - Salim Abdool Karim
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York City, USA
| | - Kogieleum Naidoo
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), CAPRISA-TB-HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa
| | - Aida Sivro
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), Durban, South Africa.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
- South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), CAPRISA-TB-HIV Pathogenesis and Treatment Research Unit, University of KwaZulu-Natal Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, Durban, South Africa.
- JC Wilt Infectious Disease Research Centre, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
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