Effects of long-term storage on salivary thiocyanate concentration

The stability of thiocyanate (SCN) concentration in frozen saliva samples stored for up to one year was examined. Fifteen adult smokers and five adult nonsmokers each provided six saliva samples, which were analyzed in duplicate pairs after 0, 2, and 12 months of storage at -20 degrees C in airtight containers. No significant changes in average SCN levels occurred over the storage interval. Although within-subject variability for duplicate samples analyzed at the same time was high, the mean levels in regular smokers were significantly higher than the levels in nonsmokers.