Adequacy of saliva 17-hydroxyprogesterone determination using various collection methods
Panagiotis G Mylonas1, Maria Makri, Neoklis A Georgopoulos
1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
Steroids
|January 25, 2006
Summary
Saliva testing for 17-hydroxyprogesterone is a reliable, non-invasive method. Different saliva collection techniques showed good agreement for measuring this steroid hormone, making it a practical alternative to blood tests.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Diagnostic Methods
Background:
- Saliva steroid determination offers advantages over blood withdrawal, being non-invasive and reflecting unbound hormone fractions.
- Previous studies have established the suitability of saliva for cortisol and 17-hydroxyprogesterone measurements in various health conditions.
- Accurate steroid hormone measurement is crucial for diagnosing endocrine disorders like Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Cushing syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the influence of different saliva collection methods on 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) measurement results.
- To evaluate the reliability of using commercially available radioimmunoassays (RIAs) designed for plasma for salivary 17-OHP determination.
- To assess the correlation between serum and saliva 17-OHP levels obtained through various collection techniques.
Main Methods:
- 17-hydroxyprogesterone was measured in serum and saliva from 64 healthy adult volunteers.
- Saliva samples were collected using three methods: direct spitting into a tube (SP), a cotton swab (SA), and a polyester swab (Salivette, SB).
- A commercially available direct radioimmunoassay (RIA) without separation was employed for all measurements.
Main Results:
- Mean 17-OHP values in saliva were significantly lower than in serum, with good agreement observed across the three collection methods (SP, SA, SB).
- Strong correlations were found between serum and saliva 17-OHP levels for all collection methods (r=0.77 for SP, r=0.62 for SA, r=0.70 for SB; p<0.05).
- Saliva 17-OHP values corresponding to the serum upper limit of normal (3 ng/ml) were consistently low across all saliva collection groups.
Conclusions:
- Salivary 17-hydroxyprogesterone determination using commercially available RIAs for serum is a reliable and user-friendly procedure.
- The three evaluated saliva collection methods (direct spitting, cotton swab, polyester swab) demonstrate good agreement for 17-OHP measurement.
- Saliva testing provides a practical and less stressful alternative for monitoring 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels, particularly in clinical settings.
