In the first microbiology review of 2026, we selected two papers on HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening and anal cancer screening, and an article discussing the importance of microbiome sample preservation in fecal microbiome studies.
Innovative home self-sampling for cervical cancer screening
The first study selected for this year evaluated the sample quality and HPV detection performance of three cervical self-sampling devices. Because validated HPV self-sampling technologies are crucial to increasing participation in cervical cancer screening, the analysis focused on whether device choice affects analytical or diagnostic performance. Women living in the Capital Region of Denmark who chose to participate in cervical screening via self-sampling received kits containing two of the three devices in different combinations. Across 1,677 participants, sample quality was similar across all devices; overall, 13.9% tested positive for one or more oncogenic HPV types. Pairwise agreement between devices was high, suggesting that all three self-sampling devices provide equivalent sample quality and HPV detection performance. Therefore, sample quality alone should not determine device choice, and other factors – such as cost, user preference, and logistical considerations – may be reasonable to consider when making decisions in cervical screening programs.
The economic side of self-collection in precancer screening
The paper by Damgacioglu and colleagues evaluated the cost-effectiveness of screening through home-based anal self-sampling compared to clinic-based anal cancer screening among sexual and gender minority individuals in the US. Using data from a randomized clinical trial, the analysis included 240 participants and was conducted from both societal and healthcare payer perspectives. Home-based screening showed higher participation rates than clinic-based screening. From a societal perspective, the per-participant costs were similar for both methods, whereas from a healthcare payer perspective, home-based screening was more expensive. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for increased screening uptake was $132.36 from the healthcare payer perspective and $25.19 from the societal perspective for each additional screening completed. These results suggest that home-based anal cancer screening is a cost-effective way to boost screening rates, especially from a societal perspective, since it cuts down on travel and time costs.
Comparing fecal sample stabilization methods for microbiome studies
The third paper featured in this issue involved eight European laboratories comparing the performance of different fecal sample stabilization methods for metaproteomic analysis within the framework of the second Critical Assessment of MetaProteome Investigation (CAMPI-2). Because fecal metaproteomics is increasingly used to characterize gut microbiome taxonomic and functional profiles, the study addressed the need to preserve metaproteome integrity when immediate freezing at −80 °C is not feasible. Samples were stored at room temperature for up to 14 days and shipped to two independent mass spectrometry facilities, where peptides were analyzed using different instruments and search engines. The results demonstrated that the stabilization method significantly impacted metaproteome richness, reproducibility, and the quantitative representation of major microbial taxa and protein functions. While each method had distinct strengths and limitations, eNAT showed the highest reproducibility and ranked best across most evaluated metrics. Overall, this study offers a robust, standardized comparison of fecal metaproteome stabilization strategies and provides practical evidence to guide the design of metaproteomics and multi-omics studies under less-than-ideal storage conditions.
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