Affiliations 

  • 1 Universiti Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Pathology, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia. intanlyna@upm.edu.my
Malays J Pathol, 2020 Dec;42(3):433-437.
PMID: 33361725

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Salivary cortisol is used as an indicator of stress level and a recommended screening test for Cushing syndrome. The normal reference interval for salivary cortisol is dependent on the analytical methodology and the population studied and hence, establishment of a local population-based reference interval is recommended.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 129 healthy blood donors and staffs of Penang General Hospital were recruited from June 2018-May 2019. Paired (morning and late-night) saliva samples were collected from individuals aged between 18 and 60 years old with no history of chronic medical illness. Salivary cortisol was assayed using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay technique. Non-parametric statistics were used for calculation of reference interval and 90% confidence intervals (90% CIs).

RESULTS: The reference interval for morning and latenight salivary cortisol was 2.09 - 22.63 nmol/L and <12.00 nmol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The locally-derived adult reference intervals for morning and late-night salivary cortisol concentration was determined and varied with previous studies emphasising the need in establishing individual laboratory reference interval.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.