STABILITY OF CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT ANTIBODIES IN SALIVA AND ORAL FLUID

The study of immunoglobulins in whole saliva is constrained by the pre sence of particulate matter, the viscosity of the matrix, and the pres ence of oral microorganisms that secrete proteolytic enzymes. We have developed an oral specimen collection system to overcome these problem s, as a means of acquiring immunoglobulin-containing oral fluid sample s that are suitable for diagnostic testing. The antimicrobial preserva tive feature of this system was found to effectively inhibit the norma l oral microbial flora recovered from human volunteers. When whole sal iva specimens, held at 23 degrees C for seven days, were tested with a n ELISA specific for human immunoglobulin G IgG), a marked and progres sive decline in IgG was found. In contrast, the levels of IgG in match ed samples from the oral specimen collection system remained constant throughout the 7-day storage period. The clinical application of this collection system was then demonstrated in the detection and stability of HIV-1 antibodies in oral fluid.