High Rate of beta-Globin DNA Detection Validates Self-Sampling in Herpes Simplex Virus Shedding Studies

摘要

Background Self-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, -globin, can be used to confirm adequacy of self-collected mucosal and skin genital specimens in studies of genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection.