Clinical utility of a novel colorimetric chair side test for oral malodour

The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a simple colorimetric chair side test detecting amines in saliva as an adjunct test in the oral malodour diagnosis.

Non-stimulated saliva samples were collected from 100 volunteers with different degrees of oral malodour. The amount of amines detected by the test was estimated clinically (colorimetric test), confirmed semi quantitatively in the laboratory (standard addition method) and consequently compared with (i) the organoleptic score (OLS); (ii) the volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) levels (OralChroma(™)) and (iii) the amount of amines detected by means of gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy.

The chair side test correlated well (Spearman correlation coefficient: 0.46-0.77), with the OLS, the level of VSCs, and the amines determined by using gas chromatography - mass spectroscopy. The results of the new test for patients with and without oral malodour were significantly different (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.0001). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of this chair side test were similar to those of the VSCs evaluations.

These results support the "fit for purpose" of the new chair side test as adjunctive diagnostic tool for oral malodour.