Comparison of time-integrated measurement of salivary corticosteroids by oral diffusion sink technology to plasma cortisol.

We report preliminary data on the standardization of a device used in the recently developed "Oral Diffusion Sink" (ODS) technology for the time-integrated measurement of salivary corticosteroids. The concentrations of corticosteroids collected with the ODS devices were compared to plasma cortisol and saliva corticosteroid levels measured simultaneously. Six volunteers installed the ODS devices into their mouths during unstimulated and ACTH (250 micrograms) stimulated periods. Blood and saliva samples were also collected during these periods. The integrated plasma cortisol response and saliva corticosteroid levels were strongly correlated with the time-integrated total corticosteroid measurement of the ODS devices as well as with the cortisol and cortisone fractions. This preliminary data suggests that the accuracy of assessing adrenocortical activity by the measurement of salivary corticosteroids collected with the ODS device is high in both normal and stimulated conditions in normal volunteers. Continued standardization and studies in the practical use of this technology could lead to an important tool in assessing adrenocortical abnormalities. The use of such technology would increase the convenience while reducing the cost and invasiveness of current provocative testing of adrenal functioning.