Comparison of oral fluid and serum ELISAs in the determination of IgG response to natural human papillomavirus infection in university women

BackgroundVenipuncture (phlebotomy) is an obstacle to subject recruitment and ongoing participation in cohort studies investigating human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Anti-HPV antibodies are not only detected in serum but also in oral fluid.ObjectivesTo evaluate if oral fluid specimens can be used in lieu of blood specimens for determining HPV antibody status.Study designOne hundred and seven paired oral fluid and blood specimens from female university students were tested in a HPV16 ELISA and compared to sexual history and serial genital HPV16 DNA status.ResultsELISA results were in agreement in 97% (104/107) of paired sera and oral fluid. Of six women with positive anti-HPV16 serum samples, only three had positive oral fluid specimens. However, the specificity of the oral fluid test was 100% compared to the blood test.ConclusionsDetection of antibodies in oral fluid correlated with antibodies but was less sensitive than sera. A larger validation study is required to fully characterize the oral fluid assay.