Barts Study on Oral Tests for Use, Collection of HPV and Evaluation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Barts Study on Oral Tests for Use, Collection of HPV and Evaluation (BOUCHE Study)
IRAS ID
129267
Contact name
Karly Louie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Joint Research Management, Queen Mary University of London
Research summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection and over 80% of sexually active people will have come into contact with HPV in their lifetime. As well as the cervix, HPV infection can sometimes be found in the oral cavity and oropharynx because of transmission via oral sexual contact or auto-inoculation and it is aetiologically linked with a subset of oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs). With the increasing burden of OPCs and the introduction of HPV vaccines in the UK, it is important to identify an appropriate test for detecting oral HPV infection which will be needed to assess its predictive value of subsequent HPV-related OPC risk and measure the vaccine impact on HPV-related OPCs. Little is understood about the association between oral and hand HPV infections. This study will evaluate four types of oral sampling tests for detection of oral HPV DNA using i) oral swabs, ii) oral rinse samples (ORS) with mouthwash, iii) ORS with saline, and iv) saliva sampling. In addition, we will evaluate the prevalence of oral-hand HPV infections and its association with risk factors.
One hundred participants (50 men and 50 women) aged ≥18 yrs will be recruited from the Barts Sexual Health Centre (BSHC). Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their health and whether the study tests are acceptable to them. In addition, four types of oral sampling tests (oral swabs, oral rinse sample with mouthwash, oral rinse sample with saline, and saliva sampling) and hand (palm/fingertips) swab samples will be collected for anonymous HPV DNA testing.
Results from this research will help inform the design of a larger epidemiological study that is planned to investigate the burden of oral HPV and the early impact of HPV vaccination among young university students.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/1012
Date of REC Opinion
6 Aug 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion