Comparative Analysis of HPV Detection Efficiency: Evaluating Cobas 8800 Performance in Vaginal Self-Sampling versus Clinician-Collected Samples at a Regional Thai Hospital

Background: This study, conducted at a regional Thai hospital, assesses the comparative efficacy of self-collected versus clinician-collected samples for HPV detection using the Cobas 8800 system among Thai women aged 30–60. Methods: Our methodology involved analyzing 1541 self-collected and 1398 clinician-collected samples. Results: The results show a statistically significant mean difference in cycle threshold (Ct) values favoring clinician-collected samples (1.53; 95% CI: 1.18–1.87, p < 0.0001). This pattern was consistent across various age groups, with the most pronounced differences noted in the oldest cohort (50–59 years), suggesting higher detection efficiency in clinician-collected samples. The study further explored the correlation of Ct values with cytological and histological outcomes, where clinician-collected samples demonstrated superior diagnostic performance, particularly in identifying LSIL and HSIL conditions, evidenced by AUC values of 0.793 and 0.866, respectively. While self-sampling remains a viable method, with sensitivity reaching up to 48.84% for LSIL and 46.15% for HSIL, clinician collection proved more accurate, likely influencing future national screening policies. Conclusions: This work underscores the need for robust sample collection methods and the importance of ongoing enhancements to self-sampling assays and techniques to ensure their efficacy in cervical cancer screening programs.