title: Development of a saliva collection device for use in the field.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For monitoring biomarkers, saliva has several distinct advantages over other biological fluids. Saliva sampling is relatively non-invasive and enables the collection from either adults or infants under many different circumstances. However, there is no collection device that can be speedily used for analysis in the field. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of a new device, termed Muddler, compared with commercially available collection devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Saliva was collected from healthy volunteers. The collection devices such as Muddler, eye sponge, Salivette® Cotton (SC) and Salivette® Synthetic (SS) were evaluated in terms of the volume and/or composition of the collected saliva. The amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and lactofferin in saliva were assessed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with the corresponding antibodies. Amylase activity was measured using a commercially available kit, and high molecular weight complexes including mucin were assessed by SDS-PAGE staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A newly developed Muddler, which was made of plastic plate, was the best device for collecting a constant volume of saliva among all the devices examined in the present study. Furthermore, Muddler can collect without change in composition of salivary proteins such as IgA, lactoferrin, amylase, and mucin complex, whereas the levels of the salivary proteins obtained with all the commercial devices used were clearly different from those in original saliva.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The newly developed Muddler was the best collection device in terms of the accuracy of collection and the reliability of measurements among all the devices examined in the present study.
authors: Department of Molecular Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan. Electronic address: takagku@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp.
authors: Kuniaki
authors: K
authors: Takagi
authors: Yasuko
authors: Y
authors: Ishikura
authors: Mitsuo
authors: M
authors: Hiramatsu
authors: Kimitsugu
authors: K
authors: Nakamura
authors: Masakuni
authors: M
authors: Degawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000681:Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D009077:Mucins; D000681:Amylases; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: Field study; Mucin complex; Saliva; Saliva collection device; Stress biomarkers