Ultrafiltrate of saliva collected in situ for the measurement of testosterone

A device for the m situ collection of an ultrafiltrate of saliva was investigated The collector consists of an osmotic pump that, when placed in the mouth, accumulates a prepurlfied salivary tiltrate wlthm a few mmutes The concentration of testosterone m saliva and m the ultrafdtrate from five male subjects was deternuned by a sohd-phase unmunoassay The ultrafiltrate can be used wthout extraction as a medmm for the diagnostic evaluation of free, protan-unbound testosterone. Concentrations m whole saliva and the ultraflltrate correlate closely (r = 0 89, n = 42) The collector can potentrally be used for the measurement of a wide variety of analytes other than testosterone An ultrafiltrate of saliva as diagnostic medium provides the followmg advantages simphcity of collection; moderate stimulation of sahvary flow, exclusion of potential blood contammation, prevention of bmdmg of analytes to protems; prevention of potential metabohc degradation of analytes, reduction of vlscoslty by exclusion of mucopolysacchandes and other large molecules, and potential stenle samphng of ultrafiltrate