TY - JOUR

T1 - The effect of storage conditions on salivary cortisol concentrations using an enzyme immunoassay

AU - Nalla, Anjana A

AU - Thomsen, Gerda

AU - Knudsen, Karen Birgitte Moos

AU - Frokjaer, Vibe G.

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Saliva samples are easy to collect and are applicable for home-sampling, e.g. when studying HPA-axis dynamics to characterize diurnal cortisol profiles and the cortisol awakening response. However, the storing and transport conditions might be critical in the home-sampling approach. Here, we tested the stability of saliva cortisol in samples stored at different temperatures and after repeated thawing-freezing cycles when measured with an Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA). Thirteen healthy volunteers, six women and seven men, mean age 31 (range 26-49) years collected saliva either in the morning hours (08:00-10:00 h) or before lunch (11:00-12:00 h). Storage at six different conditions were tested: Storage at - 18°C, - 4°C, 4°C and room temperature for 72 h. One condition tested was at - 18°C for 72 h and then kept in an envelope for 72 h with a freezing element in room temperature surroundings where after it was stored at - 80°C. The last tube was stored directly at - 80°C and served as the 'gold standard'. The saliva samples were assayed using Salivary Cortisol Diagnostic EIA. Differences in cortisol measurements between each of the five conditions and the 'gold standard' (- 80°C) were evaluated by one-sample t-test. No significant differences were observed. This indicates that an EIA method can be used reliably when measuring salivary cortisol samples obtained by home-sampling including a postal delivery.

AB - Saliva samples are easy to collect and are applicable for home-sampling, e.g. when studying HPA-axis dynamics to characterize diurnal cortisol profiles and the cortisol awakening response. However, the storing and transport conditions might be critical in the home-sampling approach. Here, we tested the stability of saliva cortisol in samples stored at different temperatures and after repeated thawing-freezing cycles when measured with an Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA). Thirteen healthy volunteers, six women and seven men, mean age 31 (range 26-49) years collected saliva either in the morning hours (08:00-10:00 h) or before lunch (11:00-12:00 h). Storage at six different conditions were tested: Storage at - 18°C, - 4°C, 4°C and room temperature for 72 h. One condition tested was at - 18°C for 72 h and then kept in an envelope for 72 h with a freezing element in room temperature surroundings where after it was stored at - 80°C. The last tube was stored directly at - 80°C and served as the 'gold standard'. The saliva samples were assayed using Salivary Cortisol Diagnostic EIA. Differences in cortisol measurements between each of the five conditions and the 'gold standard' (- 80°C) were evaluated by one-sample t-test. No significant differences were observed. This indicates that an EIA method can be used reliably when measuring salivary cortisol samples obtained by home-sampling including a postal delivery.

KW - Adult

KW - Cryopreservation

KW - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Hydrocortisone

KW - Male

KW - Middle Aged

KW - Saliva

U2 - 10.3109/00365513.2014.985252

DO - 10.3109/00365513.2014.985252

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 25510953

VL - 75

SP - 92

EP - 95

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Investigation

SN - 0036-5513

IS - 1

ER -