Saliva Tests, Part 1: Clinical Use, Elements of Testing, and Guidelines for Posttreatment Interpretation
Author(s): Kells John, Dollbaum Charles M
Issue: Jul/Aug 2009 - Homone Replacement Therapy
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Page(s): 280-288
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Abstract: Saliva is an excellent medium for the measurement of the biologically active fraction of steroid hormones in the bloodstream because it is a natural ultrafiltrate of blood, and steroids not bound by carrier proteins in the blood freely diffuse into saliva. The baseline measurement of hormone levels in saliva provides an accurate assessment and can be used to identify or monitor a number of clinical conditions, including climacteric changes in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women, adrenal disorders such as Addison’s disease or Cushing’s disease, and androgen deficiency. In men and women, the age-related decrease of hormones such as testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone can also be assessed and monitored. When compared with serum testing, saliva testing offers several advantages. Saliva collection is simple, noninvasive, stress free, painless, and safe for the patient and practitioner. The collection time for saliva testing is more controllable than that for serum testing. The transport of saliva samples fo
Related Keywords: John Kells, Charles M. Dollbaum, PhD, MD, saliva testing, sex steroids, unbound free hormone levels, menopause, adrenal disorders, androgen deficiency, sample stability, sample storage, sample transport, saliva test kit, hormone replacement therapy, HRT, estradiol, estrone, estriol, estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, interpretation of results
Related Categories: HRT, ENDOCRINOLOGY/HORMONES/ MENOPAUSE/ANDROPAUSE, PATIENT ASSESSMENT, STORAGE