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Related Experiment Videos

Salivary testosterone measurements: reliability across hours, days, and weeks.

J M Dabbs1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta 30303.

Physiology & Behavior
|July 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Salivary testosterone tests are reliable for behavioral research, offering a practical alternative to blood draws. Multiple samples, especially those collected weeks apart, enhance measurement accuracy.

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Behavioral Science
  • Biomarker Research

Background:

  • Serum testosterone sampling poses challenges in behavioral research due to subject reluctance.
  • Salivary testosterone measurement offers a non-invasive alternative, but its reliability requires validation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the reliability of salivary testosterone measurements in diverse populations.
  • To determine optimal sampling strategies for accurate salivary testosterone assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Four studies involved 270 males and 175 females collecting saliva samples.
  • Samples were collected at various times of day and over intervals from 30 minutes to 8 weeks.
  • Testosterone levels were analyzed, considering diurnal variations and inter-sample timing.

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Main Results:

  • Mean reliability was r = .64 across two days and r = .52 across seven-eight weeks.
  • Testosterone concentration exhibited a diurnal pattern, dropping approximately 50% from morning to evening.
  • Menstrual cycle effects on salivary testosterone were found to be negligible.

Conclusions:

  • Salivary testosterone assays are a practical and reliable method for measuring hormone levels in free-ranging subjects.
  • Combining multiple measurements, particularly those spaced weeks apart, improves reliability.
  • Salivary testosterone is a viable biomarker for behavioral research outside laboratory settings.