title: Impact of saliva collection methods on sIgA and cortisol assays and acceptability to participants.
abstract: In community-based studies of stress and immunity, saliva samples offer a non-intrusive way of gathering biological data. Cotton-based devices are widely used in cortisol research, but some may affect assay results. We compared assay reliability and perceived acceptability of three saliva collection methods: passive, cotton 'salivettes' and cellulose-cotton tip 'eyespears'. Compared to passive collection, salivettes reduced the concentration of cortisol (p = .001) and sIgA (p = .002). Eyespears did not reduce cortisol or sIgA concentration, and showed less interference in the rank ordering of cortisol (r(eyespear with passive) = .90) and sIgA scores (r(eyespear with passive) = .96) compared to salivettes (r cortisol(salivette with passive) = .79; r sIgA(salivette with passive) = .66). The comfort and acceptability of both cotton-based devices were rated positively. Cotton-cellulose eyespears could offer methodological advantages for collecting saliva to measure cortisol and sIgA levels, and, because they can be held during sampling, may be useful for research with children and the frail elderly.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, The Australian National University, Canberra. Lyndall.Strazdins@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Lyndall
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strazdins
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyerkort
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brent
authors.forename: Rennie M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: D'Souza
authors.forename: Dorothy H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.forename: Jennelle M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kyd
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D006854:Hydrocortisone