High rate of β-globin DNA detection validates self-sampling in HSV shedding studies

摘要

BackgroundSelf-sampling is a convenient, feasible and acceptable way of collecting genital specimens, but the veracity of reported self-collection is difficult to verify. We investigated whether a host gene, β-globin, can be used to confirm adequacy of self-collected mucosal and skin genital specimens in studies of genital HSV infection.