Human saliva as a diagnostic material

Abstract

Today blood biochemical laboratory tests are essential elements to the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment of diseases. However, many researchers have suggested saliva as an preferable diagnostic material. The collection of saliva is simple, painless, cheap and safe, both for patients and medical staff. An additional advantage of saliva is the fact that it may be retrieved several times a day, which makes repeat analysis much easier. Furthermore, saliva has very high durability. Although 94-99% of salivary content is water, saliva also contains numerous cellular elements and many organic and inorganic substances, including most biological markers present in the blood and urine that may be used in the early detection and monitoring of many dental and general diseases.

Keywords: Diagnostics; Glycomarkers; Lysosomal exoglycosidases; Mucins; Saliva.