Efficiency of oral fluid collection devices in extracting antibodies

Abstract

Introduction: To facilitate diagnoses, this study determined the efficacy of commercial oral fluid collection devices for their ability to recover three human immunoglobulin isotypes; immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG, and IgM. Methods: The sandwich enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine antibody recovery from the following devices: (i) OraSure® oral specimen collection device, (ii) saliva•sampler®, (iii) ORALscreen™ collector, (iv) Dri‐Angle®, (v) no. 2 cotton roll, (vi) all‐gauze sponges device, and (vii) DentaSwabs®. For each isotype tested, the recovered eluate was compared with the concentration applied to the device. The performance of each device was determined at various antibody concentrations. Results: Recovery of IgA from the saliva•sampler, ORALscreen collector, Dri‐Angle and cotton roll was comparable to that seeded onto the device. When compared with the seeded IgG concentration, the mean concentration of antibody recovered by each product differed by approximately ± 9 ng/ml. The average amount of IgM recovered by the cotton roll and all‐gauze sponges device was approximately 29 and 39 ng/ml, respectively, less (P < 0.0001) than that seeded on the device. For all isotypes tested, the amount of antibody recovered from the device was dependent on the initial seeding concentration. Conclusion: Collectively, these data suggest that the product used for specimen collection can affect retrieval of antibodies and potentially confound patient diagnosis.

Surgical eye spears for saliva collection and secretory immunoglobulin A measurements

“…Several different methods and devices for saliva collection are currently available, such as the collection of passive drool, utilization of cotton absorbent materials, filter paper and, more recently, surgical eye spears (3,(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). However, the samples obtained using these techniques and devices do not have the same volume and/or biomarker composition.…”

“…However, the samples obtained using these techniques and devices do not have the same volume and/or biomarker composition. This is a consequence of difficulties in separating the absorbed fluid sample and its components from the absorbent material (3,10). This also applies to one of the salivary biomarkers of particular interest, the secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA).…”

“…s-IgA is the predominant secreted antibody found in the saliva at high concentrations (11). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results have shown that cotton, used as the absorbent material (e.g., cotton Salivettes), interferes with IgA quantification; the results underestimate the s-IgA levels (9)(10). Using cellulose fiber materials does not have this effect (10).…”

“…Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results have shown that cotton, used as the absorbent material (e.g., cotton Salivettes), interferes with IgA quantification; the results underestimate the s-IgA levels (9)(10). Using cellulose fiber materials does not have this effect (10). Chang et al have reported that devices with different absorbent materials (i.e., cotton, cellulose, or polystyrene), recover varying amounts of IgA, although the IgA in question was not derived from the salivary fluid (5).…”

“…Surgical eye spears are used for sponging the ocular area during ocular surgical procedures (3,7,10 , Christina M. Cherny 1) , and Anna Nowak-Węgrzyn 1)…”