Measuring the salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations of weightlifters using an enzyme-immunoassay kit

Abstract

This study assessed an enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) kit for measuring the salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations of weightlifters. Saliva samples (n=64) were collected from male and female weightlifters during normal training procedures and analysed for T and C using a commercial EIA kit and a criterion radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Significant correlations were demonstrated between the EIA and RIA measurements of salivary T (r=0.72) and C (r=0.96) [corrected] concentrations (P<0.001). Further examination by sample and gender revealed similar relationships. The EIA concentrations of salivary T and C were found to be slightly greater (10-13%) than the RIA values. Similar discrepancies were noted when gender comparisons were made, although the relative information on T (males > females) and C (males=females) were consistent for both assay methods. In conclusion, a commercially available EIA kit provided valid measures of the salivary T and C concentrations of male and female weightlifters. Factors to consider when using an EIA kit include the hormone(s) of interest, the magnitude of the correlations, as well as the descriptive information gained (e. g. absolute, relative) and its uses within sport.