Salivary hormone testing again shown to gold standard. This study looked at salivary cortisol levels in those with Cushing's disease, Cushing's syndrome, and with adrenal incidentaloma. The results make one scratch their head. The sensitivity and specificities of salivary cortisol were very high, exceeding at least 94% with most > 96 and 97%. So, why the opposition? Ignorance I guess.
salivary testing of hormones has proven to be reliable from initial reviews, 1982, to current studies. As this study points out, salivary testing has even been shown to be superior to other body fluids. So, why the lack of use by the clinician? not due to the research!
Study shows good predictive value, with very high correlation with free serum levels, of salivary androstenedione and salivary Testosterone levels in women with PCOS. This study suggests using salivary androstenedione:salivary testosterone be used in the diagnosis of PCOS.
Salivary cortisol testing shown to have sensitivity and specificity that exceeds 90%. Final Quote: "salivary cortisol will become routine in the evaluation of patients with disorders of the HPA axis
this study showed salivary cortisol to be an "excellent" means to evaluate both those with adrenal disease and adrenal dysfunction. Salivary test is a good tool to evaluate the free active cortisol.
"cortisol measurement is therefore a primary method of choice in the screening of patients suspected of having Cushing's syndrome". This study compared plasma, salivary, and urinary tests. salivary testing of cortisol is settled. Safe, reliable, and preferred method of evaluation.
salivary testing of cortisol proven to be a better test than blood cortisol. Published in Clinical Endocrinology, '05. Salivary cortisol testing is best test to evaluate cortisol levels.
salivary cortisol testing is shown to be good alternative to serum cortisol testing. "very good correlation", "noninvasive", "easy to perform" are just some of the descriptions of salivary cortisol testing in this study
this study looked at salivary testosterone to serum testosterone and found poor correlation. One major problem with this study is the significantly smaller amount (10 fold) of testosterone in women than men in healthy individuals. This study took place in postmenopausal women, which would have significantly lower levels than healthy women. They also don't discuss the pitfalls of equilibrium dialysis of serum free testosterone. Another major flaw is the mere logic of looking at serum for tissue activity. What is the correlation between serum levels and tissue activity. There is tremendous assumptions being undertaken that serum levels of testosterone whether total or free translate to genomic or non-genomic signaling. I also wonder if newer techniques using Mass Spec can better detect the typically pico levels of testosterone in women's saliva? This study does nothing to dissuade the use of salivary testing.
Salivary cortisol shown to correlate, significantly, with serum free cortisol. This can be used as an alternative means to evaluate cortisol in those with septic shock, as this study did.
"Salivary cortisol testing is noninvasive, easy to perform, and can be conducted daily".
salivary testing of estradiol and progesterone shown to be statistically similar to blood estradiol and progesterone. And, "salivary sampling is simple, convenient, and stress free". End of debate.
Another study supports saliva hormone testing. This study involved 2,722 individuals and tested estradiol, progesterone, DHEA and testosterone in men and women. All of these are sex hormones. Someone needs to tell the insurance companies that the overwhelming evidence supports saliva hormone testing. But, that would mean they are even interested in the science.
Since salivary cortisol concentrations were shown to reflect the free, biologically active fraction in plasma, salivary assay may, in selected cases, provide results of greater diagnostic significance than plasma total concentrations.
European journal of endocrinology article compared serum to salivary cortisol and found them to be equal, but due to ease of collection, salivary cortisol to be preferable. This article was using cortisol to assess HPA axis dysfunction.
the review highlights the use of salivary cortisol measurements to provide information about HPA axis dysfunction associated with psycho- and patho-physiological conditions in children. Novel applications for salivary cortisol measurements in future research into HPA axis activity in children are also discussed.