Table 2.

Variation in relative sensitivity and specificity of high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) assays on self samples versus clinician samples, by self sampling device and storage medium

Covariate	No of studies	Relative sensitivity (95% CI)	Relative specificity (95% CI)
Self sampling device
hrHPV assay based on signal amplification
Brush	13	0.84 (0.78 to 0.90)*	0.93 (0.91 to 0.96)*
Swab	7	0.85 (0.78 to 0.91)*	0.93 (0.90 to 0.95)*
Lavage†	2	0.84 (0.69 to 1.04)	0.74 (0.55 to 0.98)*
Tampon	1	0.86 (0.78 to 0.96)*	1.02 (1.00 to 1.03)
hrHPV assay based on polymerase chain reaction
Brush	12	0.98 (0.95 to 1.02)	0.95 (0.91 to 0.99)*
Swab	4	0.98 (0.93 to 1.03)	0.93 (0.89 to 0.98)*
Lavage†	4	0.95 (0.87 to 1.04)	1.09 (0.91 to 1.30)
Tampon	0	NA	NA
Storage medium
hrHPV assay based on signal amplification
Cell preserving†	3	0.84 (0.78 to 0.90)*	0.93 (0.91 to 0.96)*
Virological†	15	0.86 (0.81 to 0.91)*	0.95 (0.92 to 0.98)*
Dry samples	0	NA	NA
Other	1	0.90 (0.71 to 1.13)	0.92 (0.71 to 1.21)
hrHPV assay based on polymerase chain reaction
Cell preserving	6	1.00 (0.96 to 1.04)	0.92 (0.88 to 0.97)*
Virological†	3	0.97 (0.91 to 1.04)	0.94 (0.89 to 0.99)*
Dry samples†	7	0.96 (0.90 to 1.02)	1.01 (0.94 to 1.10)
Other	1	0.95 (0.80 to 1.13)	1.05 (0.69 to 1.58)

Relative values were computed by using a bivariate normal model, separating studies using a hrHPV assay based on signal amplification or a hrHPV assay based on polymerase chain reaction. Pooling was performed using a bivariate normal model.

NA=not available.

^*Relative accuracy statistically significantly different from unity.

^†When the bivariate model containing covariates did not fit or when the number of studies <4, a separate pooling of the relative sensitivity and relative specificity using a model for ratios of proportions was run.