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Cortisol in saliva--reference ranges and relation to cortisol in serum
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden.
European Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry : Journal of the Forum of European Clinical Chemistry Societies
|December 1, 1995
Summary
This study establishes reference ranges for salivary cortisol, finding it a stable and viable non-invasive alternative to serum cortisol testing for clinical use.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Chemistry
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Cortisol is a crucial hormone with a diurnal rhythm.
- Accurate measurement of cortisol is vital for diagnosing various endocrine disorders.
- Salivary cortisol offers a non-invasive alternative to serum testing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish morning and evening reference ranges for salivary cortisol.
- To compare salivary free cortisol concentrations with serum total cortisol.
- To assess the stability and reliability of saliva samples for cortisol analysis.
Main Methods:
- Collected matched saliva and serum samples from 197 healthy volunteers at 8 am and 10 pm.
- Determined cortisol concentrations using radioimmunoassay for serum and a validated method for saliva.
- Assessed saliva sample stability at room temperature and -20 degrees C.
Main Results:
- Established reference ranges: 3.5-27.0 nmol/l at 8 am and < 6.0 nmol/l at 10 pm.
- Demonstrated good correlation between salivary and serum cortisol (r=0.86 for <450 nmol/l serum).
- Confirmed saliva sample stability for at least 7 days at room temperature and 9 months at -20 degrees C.
Conclusions:
- Salivary cortisol measurement is precise and reliable.
- The non-invasive nature of saliva sampling makes it suitable when blood collection is challenging.
- Salivary cortisol reference ranges provide a valuable tool for clinical diagnostics.