Feasibility of collecting oral fluid samples in the home setting to determine seroprevalence of infections in a large-scale cohort of preschool-aged children

Summary

Oral fluid is a non-invasive biological sample, which can be returned by post, making it suitable for large-scale epidemiological studies in children. We report our experience of oral fluid collection from 14 373 preschool-aged children in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Samples were collected by mothers in the home setting following the guidance of trained interviewers, and posted to the laboratory. Samples were received from 11 698 children (81·4%). Children whose mothers were of Black Caribbean ethnicity and who lived in non-English-speaking households were less likely to provide a sample, and those with a maternal history of asthma more likely to provide a sample [adjusted risk ratio (95% CI) 0·85 (0·73–0·98), 0·87 (0·77–0·98) and 1·03 (1·00–1·05) respectively]. Collection of oral fluid samples is feasible and acceptable in large-scale child cohort studies. Formal interpreter support may be required to increase participation rates in surveys that collect biological samples from ethnic minorities.

INTRODUCTION

Objective measures of infection in young children are essential in epidemiological studies of acquisition of infections in early life, but blood sampling is not feasible in large-scale population-based studies at this age. However, as many common childhood infections are asymptomatic, or of non-specific symptomatology objective measures are needed. Oral fluid has been increasingly used as a minimally invasive alternative to blood in seroprevalence studies [1, 2], and has the potential to achieve higher population coverage. Effective methods for the collection, transport and processing of oral fluid samples have been developed and evaluated to ensure optimum sample quality [3–5]. There has been increasing interest in investigating the relationship between common childhood infections in very early childhood and later allergic and autoimmune disorders [6], but to date only limited experience of oral fluid collection to measure such infections objectively within large-scale cohort studies of preschool-aged children.

We report the feasibility of collecting oral fluid samples in the home setting from 3-year-old children in a large-scale, socially diverse and multi-ethnic cohort carried out as part of a prospective study investigating early childhood acquisition of infection and subsequent asthma and allergic disorders. Specifically we report the proportion of cohort members for whom a sample was received in the laboratory and the maternal and child factors associated with oral fluid sample receipt, including those relevant to allergic disorders or asthma.

METHODS

Study population and design

The Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) is a prospective study of the social, economic and health-related circumstances of British children born in the new century [7]. A stratified clustered survey design was employed to over-represent children living in disadvantaged areas, from ethnic minority groups and the smaller UK countries. The original cohort comprised 18 818 children (18 552 families), living in the United Kingdom at age 9 months when the first survey was conducted, representing a response rate of 72% at the first survey. A detailed description of the sampling design is provided elsewhere [8].

A second survey was conducted between September 2003 and January 2005 when cohort children were aged about 3 years [9]. At the second survey, 14 630 (80%) of 18 296 mother–singleton infant pairs interviewed at the first survey were interviewed at home by social survey interviewers at a mean child age of 37·7 months (s.d.=2·5). Interviewers were experienced in social and biomedical surveys but were not themselves clinically trained or qualified to collect biological samples. Translators were made available when neither a resident parent nor other household member aged ⩾16 years spoke English. At each interview, information was collected on a range of demographic, social, and health factors related to the child and their family.

We included 14 373 singleton children with a natural mother as main survey respondent in the analyses reported here, for whom data from 12 026 partner interviews were available, including 11 676 natural fathers. Of these 14 373 main respondents, 8993 were from England, 2201 from Wales, 1766 from Scotland and 1413 from Northern Ireland. Data from both surveys were obtained from the UK Data Archive, University of Essex [10, 11]. Fieldwork for the first and second MCS surveys received ethical approval from the South West and London Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committees, respectively [12]. The analyses presented required no further ethical committee approval.

Invitation to participate

Families, eligible for the second MCS survey, were sent a letter and a four-page study booklet a few days before the home interview. This included the ‘Infections and Allergies Study’ leaflet inviting them to participate in the oral fluid survey, and describing the hygiene hypothesis, the purpose of collecting oral fluid (referred to as ‘saliva’ for simplicity in this leaflet), and how it would be collected. The letter and leaflet were translated into ten languages, with translated versions sent to households identifying one of these languages as their main household language at the first survey [13]. All families in Wales were sent a study booklet in English and Welsh.

Oral fluid collection

Interviewers, informed about oral fluid collection methods using a purpose-made video presentation, explained to participating mothers how to collect a sample of oral fluid from their child using the Oracol oral fluid collection device (Malvern Medical Developments Ltd, Worcester, UK). This device was selected for its acceptability for use with children and its high oral fluid sample quality [14, 15]. The absorbent foam swab included with this device was gently rubbed over the child's gums for 1 minute by the mother, or by the child if they wished, sealed in the supplied plastic tube, inserted into a larger tube labelled with a barcode denoting the cohort identification number and the date and time of sample, and posted using a pre-addressed reply-paid envelope to the laboratory. Mothers collecting the child's sample after the interview labelled and returned it by post using the same procedure. Upon receipt in the laboratory oral fluid samples were extracted from the sponge swab by agitation of the swab for 30 s in 1 ml transport medium [PBS (pH 7·2) with 10% fetal calf serum, 0·2% Tween-20, 0·5% gentamicin, and 0·2% fungizone] followed by centrifugation and division into four aliquots which were frozen at −20°C. Samples were tested for total immunoglobulin (IgG) content using a time-resolved fluorescent immunoassay.

Explanatory variables

We examined the following maternal social and demographic factors as potential predictors of response: maternal socio-economic status (based upon maternal occupation and categorized in accordance with the National Statistics Socioeconomic Classification) [16], ethnic group (categorized into eight groups in accordance with guidelines from the Office for National Statistics) [17], age at cohort child birth, level of education (obtained at the first survey, GCSEs at Grade C or above or no academic qualifications), smoking during pregnancy (yes/no); history of breastfeeding (<4 months, ⩾4 months) and factors relevant to the allergic outcomes of interest for the hygiene hypothesis: maternal and paternal history of asthma, eczema, hayfever, or bronchitis (yes/no). All information for these variables was obtained at the first survey. We also examined the following variables collected at the second survey: cohort child sex and age at interview (<36 months, 36–39 months, >39 months), maternal lone parent status, main household language (English, English and other language, or other language only) and cohort child history of asthma, eczema, hayfever or wheezing in the past 12 months, child day-care attendance (formal, informal, none), and total number of children in the household (1, 2–3, ⩾4).

Statistical methods

All analyses were weighted for non-response and survey design effect. Variables significantly associated with differences in oral fluid receipt were identified using the F test, and analysed using a multivariable modified Poisson regression model for binary data [18] to report crude and adjusted risk ratios (aRRs). The robust Poisson model has been shown to provide more reliable prevalence estimates for a common outcome with binary data than a logistic regression model, using sandwich estimation to estimate robust standard errors [19]. We adjusted for child age and sex, and then used a stepped approach to examine associations with socio-economic and demographic factors, and other factors relevant to the hygiene hypothesis. Adjusted Wald tests were used to test for differences between regression coefficients. All analyses were conducted using Stata 9.2 with SVY commands [20].

RESULTS

Overall, oral fluid samples were received from 11 698 (81·4%) children, and this did not vary significantly by UK country (Table 1). Of 11 698 samples, only 213 (1·8%) did not contain any oral fluid detectable by measurement of total IgG content. The geometric mean of total IgG was 2·07 AU/ml [95% CI (confidence interval) 2·02–2·11]. In univariable analyses, samples were less likely to be received from older children, boys, children whose mothers had never worked or were unemployed, whose mothers were of non-white ethnicity, or who lived in non-English-speaking households (Table 1). Among those variables relevant to the hygiene hypothesis, none were significant apart from a maternal history of asthma: samples were received from 83·1% and 80·8% of children of mothers with and without a history of asthma, respectively (Table 2).

Table 1. Oral fluid sample receipt by social and demographic factors

N, Weighted percentages.

Missing data: maternal socio-economic status (176), maternal ethnicity (46), maternal age at cohort child birth (7), maternal education (31).

Table 2. Oral fluid sample receipt by factors associated with the hygiene hypothesis

N, Weighted percentages.

* N=11676.

Missing data: maternal smoking during pregnancy (60), maternal asthma (14), maternal eczema (14), maternal hayfever (12), maternal bronchitis (15), paternal asthma (1730), paternal eczema (1727), paternal hayfever (1728), paternal bronchitis (1731), breastfeeding history (15), cohort child asthma/wheezing (60), cohort child asthma or wheezing in past 12 months (2) cohort child eczema/hayfever (122).

These associations remained after adjustment for child age and sex. Further adjustment using a stepped approach did not attenuate associations significantly with the exception of associations with maternal Pakistani and Black African ethnicity which attenuated after adjustment for maternal socio-economic status, and with maternal unemployment which attenuated after adjustment for maternal ethnicity. After adjustment for all factors, children of Black Caribbean mothers remained significantly less likely to provide a sample (aRR 0·85, 95% CI 0·73–0·98) as did children living in non-English-speaking households (aRR 0·87, 95% CI 0·77–0·98) (Table 3). Conversely, children of mothers with a history of asthma were slightly but significantly more likely to provide a sample (aRR 1·03, 95% CI 1·00–1·05).

Table 3. Factors associated with oral fluid sample receipt

RR, Risk ratio; aRR, adjusted risk ratio; CI, confidence interval.

Weighted percentages (N).

† Adjusted for age and sex of cohort child, maternal socio-economic status, ethnic group, household language and maternal asthma.

* P⩽0·05.

DISCUSSION

This is to our knowledge the first large-scale child cohort study in which oral fluid has been collected by the mother from preschool-aged children in the home setting, with an explanation from a trained interviewer. The high response rate achieved suggests that this methodology is feasible and acceptable, with 98·2% of returned oral fluid devices having IgG detected on the foam swab. We have identified social and ethnic factors associated with a mother's decision to collect oral fluid from her child, with samples less likely to be received from children of mothers from Black Caribbean ethnic groups or from those living in non-English-speaking households. Although children of mothers with a history of asthma were statistically more likely to provide a sample, the effect was small and there were no associations with other measures of allergy and asthma in the child or parent.

Strengths of our study include the size, representativeness and diversity of the cohort, as well as the rich range of social and demographic information available on cohort families and children. This has enabled comprehensive examination of factors associated with oral fluid sample provision in multi-ethnic and socially diverse population-based cohort studies and provides novel insights relevant to future studies in this age group. Unfortunately a precise record of who declined to provide a sample (mother, child or both), whether the mother or child took the sample, or whether the interviewer was present at sample collection was not retained.

Although a number of large-scale seroprevalence studies based on oral fluid samples have been carried out by post previously, these have included a wide age range of participants and provide only limited information regarding factors associated with response in young children. A recent postal oral fluid study of 2448 potential participants aged 20–39 years in Canada, reported a response rate of 59% [21]. In England and Wales a postal seroprevalence survey of adults and children conducted by the Health Protection Agency reported an overall response of 40%, and this was lower amongst men and ethnic minorities [22]. A higher response rate of 60% was attained from 962 households surveyed in Ireland [23]. In these postal studies participants were contacted only by letter, with a request for self-collection with no interviewer present. In our study, mothers had already agreed to completion of the survey questionnaire when approached about the oral fluid sample and an interviewer explained how to collect samples. This may account for the higher response achieved in our study compared to that reported in other published postal surveys.

Higher participation rates have been reported in smaller studies where a nurse or a health-care professional has collected the sample, although only limited information is available by age group. For example, 84/91 (92%) parents agreed to their child taking part in a study to examine the feasibility of using oral fluids for hepatitis C virus testing of 3- to 10-year-olds; 70/84 (83%) of the children whose parents had given consent also agreed to take part [24]. In this small study, older children were more likely to take part, but participation did not vary by sex of child, or by area-level deprivation. In contrast, within the narrow age range represented in our study, younger children were more likely to provide a sample. Similar response rates were reported from a study of 11-year-olds in Scottish primary schools where 554/720 (77%) of children provided a sample [25]. A recently published case-control study in East Anglia recruited preschool-aged children but did not report participation rates [26]. Unfortunately the precise method of sample collection was not reported in either of these studies.

There was only limited evidence that a history of asthma or allergic disease in the child or family influenced participation, with a maternal history of asthma associated with a small but statistically significant increase in sample receipt. In previous studies of parental participation in paediatric research, parents have also cited an opportunity to learn more about their child's clinical illness and a willingness to contribute to medical knowledge as reasons for taking part, but these studies have been carried out in clinical rather than population-based settings [27, 28].

Although, overall, response was high in our study, our findings suggest that despite provision of translated study information sheets and use of family members or professional interpreter support, some barriers to participation remain for mothers living in non-English-speaking households. Other factors in the fieldwork design may be relevant, including the provision of written information in languages that may be spoken but not necessarily read in a non-English-speaking household [29]. Hunt & Bhopal have highlighted the need for greater awareness of cultural differences to increase participation in multi-ethnic research studies, while others have examined the need for further research to identify the barriers and facilitators for involvement of different population groups [30–32].

We found that children of Black Caribbean mothers were less likely to provide oral fluid, and this was independent of home language and socio-economic status. We were unable to identify any UK studies specifically exploring ethnic variation in provision of non-invasive biological samples for research, although there is a growing literature examining non-participation in clinical trials and observational studies [33–36]. Under-representation of Black African American ethnic minorities in clinical medical research has been consistently reported from the United States [37, 38]. While this has been attributed to factors such as a lower level of trust in medical research [39], others have suggested that under-representation of ethnic minorities in health research may reflect failure to approach these groups rather than their refusal to participate [40]. Our study was not, however, carried out in a health-care setting, all cohort families irrespective of ethnic background, were invited to participate and observed ethnic differences were independent of socio-economic factors. While qualitative research might be helpful to identify other barriers to participation, overall the response rates achieved are high and future analyses of seroprevalence will adjust for non-response.

In conclusion, we have demonstrated that a high proportion of mothers and their preschool-aged children participating in a UK-wide cohort are willing to provide an oral fluid specimen in the home setting following verbal explanation by an interviewer supplemented by written information. While lower among certain ethnic groups and non-English-speaking households, overall response was high indicating that oral fluid is a feasible and acceptable biological sample for use in population-based seroprevalence studies in this age group. Formal interpreter support may be required to increase participation rates in surveys that collect biological samples from ethnic minorities.