INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care (POC) measurements using saliva samples have immense potential to assess systemic health and wellbeing, but sample viscosity and contaminants can affect analyses. We sought a portable clean-up method for whole saliva appropriate for use with POC measurement techniques such as biosensors. METHODS: Whole saliva from each of 13 male subjects was split into 5 fractions. Each fraction was treated with a different clean-up process: a freeze-thaw-centrifuge (FTC) step; centrifugation alone; or passage through a Mini-UniPrep polyethersulfone filter, cotton Salivette, or foam Oracol device. Following clean-up, each subject's treated saliva fractions were assayed for cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and protein concentrations. The effects of clean-up methods on nonspecific binding (NSB) in a biosensor were also assessed. RESULTS: Compared with FTC, no analytes were affected by centrifugation alone. Cotton Salivettes significantly altered all analytes, with increases in cortisol (+64%), testosterone (+126%), and DHEA (off-scale) levels, and decreased protein (-21%) and biosensor NSB (-75%). Oracol foam devices decreased DHEA levels by 28%. Mini-UniPrep filtration decreased testosterone (-45%) and DHEA (-66%) concentrations while increasing cortisol (+40%). CONCLUSION: No method was optimal for all analytes, highlighting the need for validation of saliva treatment methods before their adoption in rapid POC analyses.
INTRODUCTION: Point-of-care (POC) measurements using saliva samples have immense potential to assess systemic health and wellbeing, but sample viscosity and contaminants can affect analyses. We sought a portable clean-up method for whole saliva appropriate for use with POC measurement techniques such as biosensors. METHODS: Whole saliva from each of 13 male subjects was split into 5 fractions. Each fraction was treated with a different clean-up process: a freeze-thaw-centrifuge (FTC) step; centrifugation alone; or passage through a Mini-UniPrep polyethersulfone filter, cotton Salivette, or foam Oracol device. Following clean-up, each subject's treated saliva fractions were assayed for cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and protein concentrations. The effects of clean-up methods on nonspecific binding (NSB) in a biosensor were also assessed. RESULTS: Compared with FTC, no analytes were affected by centrifugation alone. Cotton Salivettes significantly altered all analytes, with increases in cortisol (+64%), testosterone (+126%), and DHEA (off-scale) levels, and decreased protein (-21%) and biosensor NSB (-75%). Oracol foam devices decreased DHEA levels by 28%. Mini-UniPrep filtration decreased testosterone (-45%) and DHEA (-66%) concentrations while increasing cortisol (+40%). CONCLUSION: No method was optimal for all analytes, highlighting the need for validation of saliva treatment methods before their adoption in rapid POC analyses.
Authors: Guy-Lucien S Whembolua; Douglas A Granger; Sarany Singer; Katie T Kivlighan; Jeffrey A Marguin Journal: Horm Behav Date: 2005-11-23 Impact factor: 3.587
Authors: Douglas A Granger; Katie T Kivlighan; Mona el-Sheikh; Elana B Gordis; Laura R Stroud Journal: Ann N Y Acad Sci Date: 2007-03-01 Impact factor: 5.691
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