Purpose of Saliva Collection
Saliva collection devices provide an easy and non-invasive way to collect saliva samples for testing purposes. Saliva contains molecules and markers that can provide important diagnostic and analytical insights into a person's health. Tests of saliva are often used as an alternative to blood tests since collecting saliva is simpler, more comfortable and poses less risk to both patient and healthcare worker compared to venipuncture. The purpose of saliva collection devices is to safely and hygienically collect and store saliva samples for analyses in clinical or research settings.
Common Types of Saliva Collection Devices
Swabs: One of the most basic Saliva Collection Devices is a sterile swab similar to a long Q-tip. The individual places the swab under their tongue and rolls it around to absorb saliva. Swabs are then placed in collection tubes or vials for storage and transport to labs. Swabs avoid spillage and provide individual portions for multi-sample collections.
Spit Cups: Spit cups are small collection containers, usually made of plastic, with a screw-top lid. Individuals rinse their mouth with water and spit saliva directly into the cup. Spit cups hold larger volumes of saliva than swabs but require spatially efficient collection to avoid spillage.
Absorbent Pads: Absorbent pads are cellulose-wicking materials designed to draw in and retain saliva through capillary action. Individuals place an absorbent pad under the tongue and allow saliva to be passively absorbed over several minutes. Pads generate consistent fluid samples without effort from participants.
Saliva Collection Devices in Use
Diagnostic Testing: Saliva samples can be tested for a wide range of biomarkers including hormones, steroids, antibodies, proteins and RNA/DNA components. Tests of saliva are often used to assess health conditions, deliver non-invasive prenatal screening, detect diseases, monitor drug therapies and study stress responses. Diagnostic labs use standardized saliva collection kits.
Research Studies: Academics and clinical researchers frequently incorporate saliva sampling into studies of human physiology, psychology, sociology and more. Large grant-funded projects supply researchers with thousands of standardized collection devices to rigorously and replicably obtain saliva from dispersed study populations over long periods.
Workplace Testing: Some employers utilize saliva-based drug and alcohol screening as a pre-employment or random testing program. Immediate results from saliva tests allow workplaces to take timely action to ensure safety compliance. Entrepreneurs have created integrated hardware-software platforms tailored for workplace oral fluid sample collection and test result processing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Saliva Collection
How much saliva is needed? Most diagnostic tests and research studies require 1-2mL of saliva, approximately 1-2 teaspoons, for adequate testing volume. Collection devices are designed to passively accumulate this amount over several minutes.
How long before tests? Saliva collection devices include preservatives and are designed for short-term storage at room temperature for up to 72 hours. For longer periods or shipping, samples must be refrigerated or frozen depending on analytes of interest and test methods.
Can food/drinks interfere? It is generally recommended to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum for 30 minutes prior to sampling to avoid potential contaminants in saliva. Some studies have strict fasting requirements before collections.
How often can samples be collected? Most healthy individuals can provide sufficient saliva samples daily with no long term issues. However, frequent sampling over short periods should be done judiciously depending on purpose and individual factors like hydration levels and compliance.
Innovations in Saliva Collection Device Technology
New innovations continue optimizing saliva collection devices for larger sample sizes, more targeted biomolecule preservation, rapid onboard testing, wireless data transmission and integrated user-interfaces to gamify the sampling process and improve compliance for research. Device manufacturers are also pursuing minimally-invasive and even implantable interfaces to continuously monitor analytes via saliva instead of intermittent sampling. As omics technologies advance to interrogate ever deeper biological layers from smaller sample amounts, saliva collection devices will increasingly enable non-invasive real-time personal health monitoring through a simple saliva test.
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