A SINGLE-SAMPLE SALIVA TEST TO DETERMINE ACETYLATOR PHENOTYPE

A comparison was made between the results of acetylator phenotyping by determination of the acetylisoniazid to isoniazid (AcINH/INH) concent ration ratio in plasma and in saliva 3 h after oral administration of isoniazid (200mg). In the 154 subjects studied, 68 (44%) were fast ace tylators (AcINH/INH ratio > 1.5) using the plasma ratio. In all subjec ts the saliva AcINH/INH ratio was also > 1.5. Eighty-five of the eight y-six remaining subjects had saliva and plasma AcINH/INH ratios < 1.5 in the 3 h sample. Thus, with one exception there was complete agreeme nt between the acetylator status determined by measurement of saliva o r plasma AcINH/INH ratio in a single 3 h sample. Saliva measurement ma y provide a simple non-invasive alternative to plasma collection in as sessing acetylator status.