Saliva testing has been used to assess an increasingly broad range of medical conditions, including Sjögren's syndrome, cystic fibrosis and diseases of the adrenal cortex. Saliva samples are easier to collect, store and ship than blood or urine samples. Saliva testing is also non-invasive, does not require specialized training or equipment and is more patient-friendly, particularly when a series of samples is required.
Convenient for Detecting Breast Cancer
A study published in the October 2009 issue of "Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral y Cirugia Bucal" found that salivary testing may be a useful form of breast cancer screening. The Academy of General Dentistry reported on the potential for this type of screening to be carried out by dentists. Since dentists see their patients once or twice a year, they can easily collect saliva samples, making this a viable option in health care for women. As another advantage of saliva testing, they point out that blood, which is colored, often changes color during the testing procedure, which can affect results, while saliva is a clear fluid.
Honesty and Dignity in Drug Testing
Testing for drugs has been fraught with controversy. Urine testing is regarded as an undignified invasion of privacy, and samples can be tampered with, making the process little more than an irksome honor system. Saliva sampling for drugs can be done with supervision to guarantee honest and accurate sample collection. This method eliminates the chances of tampering and the embarrassment that goes along with subjecting an individual to the urine sampling procedure. Saliva sampling can be carried out easily in a variety of locations, and some police departments are evaluating this method for use in roadside testing.
Reliable and Non-Invasive for Measuring Hormone Levels
Monitoring plasma levels of hormones is essential for the management of certain conditions. However, when blood or urine testing proves inadequate or inaccurate in a given circumstance, saliva testing offers an ideal option. Certain hormone levels, when measured in saliva, are more reliable reflections of blood levels than other hormones. Salivary testosterone, estrogen and progesterone were tested in a two-week study published in the January 2010 journal "Physiology and Behavior," and the researchers concluded that the testing procedure was reliable. Salivary progesterone has also been used to measure ovarian function and as a convenient and non-invasive way to monitor hormone replacement therapy.
References
- PubMed: Correlation of Serum and Salivary CA15-3 Levels in Patients With Breast Cancer
- Science Daily: New Saliva Test May Help Dentists Test for Breast Cancer
- Scribd: The Policy Context of Roadside Drug Testing
- Functional Health Tests: Advantages and Reliability of Saliva Testing and Clinical Applications
- Know Your Teeth: Saliva Test May Help Dentists Check for Breast Cancer
