Measuring salivary cortisol in studies of child development: Watch out—what goes in may not come out of saliva collection devices

摘要: Technical advances that enable the noninvasive measurement of biomarkers in saliva have spawned a generation investigations integrate biological variables into behavioral and developmental research. This study examines whether collection saliva, using common absorbent devices compromises cortisol when specimens low sample volume. Within subjects (n = 20), samples were prepared to experimentally represent gradient lower higher volumes. One aliquot was immediately frozen (no treatment control) remaining aliquots absorbed (“collected”) one three techniques employed studies child development (e.g., braided cotton dental rope, Salivette pledget, or hydrocellulose microsponge). The volume recovered from each device relative initial available be absorbed, level untreated-control condition measured. Results reveal for certain (1) percent is related (2) substantial percentage can remain material, (3) associated with absorbed. When research participants, such as young children, produce specimens, some may potential introduce error variance salivary cortisol. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 49: 495-500, 2007.