天美传媒

Abstract

Salivary steroids quantification by HPLC-MS/MS: comparative evaluation of sample collection methods for analysis in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Steroid hormones analysis in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia is usually performed using blood serum or plasma. This approach is not always convenient, particularly when used in children. It is important to note that blood sampling is a stress factor leading to elevated levels of certain steroids. Consequently, non-invasive methods are being developed in order to facilitate the successful assessment of steroid hormone levels across a wide range of matrixes. It is well known that determining saliva steroid hormone levels via high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) is the preferred method for assessing the compensation of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. This technique allows the simultaneous measurement of multiple steroids in a single assay with high accuracy, owing to its minimal cross-reactivity effects.

However, existing saliva collection methods are not always convenient or effective, and the task of selecting a suitable material for sample collection remains crucial, since the commercially available swabs are highly specialized. In this paper we present a comparative study of different saliva collection materials for nine steroids evaluated via high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry. The present study undertook a comprehensive analysis of an array of materials, specifically including cotton, a biocompatible synthetic polymer, cellulose, and viscose. Concurrently, a rigorous investigation was carried out utilizing biomaterial specimens that were obtained through the application of the free flow collection technique, commonly referred to as the “passive drool” method.

It has been established that the utilization of absorbent materials lowers the concentrations of highly lipophilic steroids. Thus, it has been revealed that the passive saliva run-off into a polypropylene tube technique (“passive drool”) has demonstrated the best approach for collecting saliva samples. Furthermore, a correlation between the hormone levels in saliva and blood serum has been shown in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia employing this method of saliva collection.