Diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol and DHEA using a novel collection device: Electronic monitoring confirms accurate recording of collection time using this device

Abstract

The accurate indication of saliva collection time is important for defining the diurnal decline in salivary cortisol as well as characterizing the cortisol awakening response.. We tested a convenient and novel collection device for collecting saliva on strips of filter paper in a specially constructed booklet for determination of both cortisol and DHEA. In the present study, 31 healthy adults (mean age 43.5 yrs.) collected saliva samples four times a day on three consecutive days using filter paper collection devices (Saliva Procurement and Integrated Testing (SPIT) booklet) which were maintained during the collection period in a large plastic bottle with an electronic monitoring cap. Subjects were asked to collect saliva samples at awakening, 30 min. after awakening, before lunch and 600 min. after awakening. The time of awakening and the time of collection before lunch were allowed to vary by each subjects’ schedule. A reliable relationship was observed between the time recorded by the subject directly on the booklet and the time recorded by electronic collection device (n = 286 observations; r2 = 0.98). However, subjects did not consistently collect the saliva samples at the two specific times requested, 30 and 600 min. after awakening. Both cortisol and DHEA revealed diurnal declines.. In spite of variance in collection times at 30 min. and 600 min. after awakening, the slope of the diurnal decline in both salivary cortisol and DHEA were similar when we compared collection tolerances of ± 7.5 and ± 15 min. for each steroid.. These unique collection booklets proved to be a reliable method for recording collection times by subjects as well as for estimating diurnal salivary cortisol and DHEA patterns.

Elevated repetitive behaviors are associated with lower diurnal salivary cortisol levels in autism spectrum disorder

“…The collection booklet contained four specially cut Whatman (grade 42) filter papers separated by waxed weigh paper to prevent cross contamination (Laudenslager et al, 2013). Each collection time was color coded to reduce errors in collection.…”

“…A previous study suggests that there may be a subpopulation of children with ASD who have both high frequencies of sensory sensitivities and RBs (Gabriels et al, 2008). Hypotheses regarding why sensitivity to sensory stimuli might lead to an increase in RBs in individuals with ASD include: (1) to induce a sensory experience/enhance arousal levels in the absence of stimulation or (2) to decrease or moderate the stress or arousal levels resulting from excessive sensory stimulation in the environment (Bodfish, 2011;Liss et al, 2006). The evaluation of RBs and sensory sensitivities is complicated, however, by the great deal of overlap that exists in the terminology and measurement tools used to define them (see Gabriels et al, 2008, for a review).…”

Intraindividual Cortisol Variability and Psychological Functioning in Caregivers of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

“…allowing them to vary by individual an amount u 0i from the intercept b 0 and an amount u 1i from the slope. We have observed reliable time registration by individuals in this age group using our unique collection devices [18]. Similar to previously published analyses [14], the standard deviation of each individual’s residual from their model was then saved as a new variable of intraindividual cortisol variability (ICV).…”

“…Saliva samples were collected for 3 consecutive days using filter paper collection techniques as previously described [18] at 4 time points/day: awakening, 30 minutes following awakening, prior to lunch and 4PM. For ICV and slope calculations, the collection at 30 minutes after awakening was eliminated, to eliminate the cortisol awakening response (CAR) representing a different physiological response system [19] .…”

“…For the ICV calculation, the cortisol level approximately 30 minutes after awakening was eliminated to model individuals’ cortisol as a linear time trend from awakening to 4 PM [18]. For samples with missing collection times (20.6%), group means for the recorded collection time was imputed similar to prior approaches[14].…”