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Salivary Diagnostics

Meaning

Salivary diagnostics is a non-invasive clinical methodology utilizing saliva as a biological medium to measure and assess various biomarkers, including steroid hormones like cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. This testing method offers a practical advantage over traditional blood draws, particularly for assessing the free, biologically active fraction of steroid hormones that readily diffuse into the saliva. It is especially valuable in endocrinology for tracking diurnal variations and stress responses, allowing for the convenient, multiple-point collection necessary to accurately map hormonal rhythms. This diagnostic approach provides a clinically relevant snapshot of tissue-level hormone exposure.