A comparison of salivary testosterone measurement using immunoassays and tandem mass spectrometry. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Welker, Keith M.; Lassetter, Bethany; Brandes, Cassandra M.; Prasad, Smrithi; Koop, Dennis R.; Mehta, Pranjal H.
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 71(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 180
• Page End: 188
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Salivary testosterone -- Immunoassays -- Liquid chromatography -- Mass spectrometry -- Measurement; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.05.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: EIAs from DRG International most approximated testosterone. EIAs tended to inflate estimates of lower testosterone concentrations in women. Testosterone EIAs had less linear agreement with LC–MS/MS compared to cortisol EIAs. Abstract: Enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) are widely used to measure salivary testosterone. However, little is known about how accurately different EIAs assess testosterone, partially because estimates across various EIAs differ considerably. We compared testosterone concentrations across EIAs of three commonly used manufacturers (DRG International, Salimetrics, and IBL International) to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Relative to EIAs from Salimetrics and IBL International, EIAs supplied by DRG International provided the closest approximation to LC–MS/MS testosterone concentrations, followed closely by EIAs from Salimetrics, and then IBL. Additionally, EIAs tended to inflate estimates of lower testosterone concentrations in women. Examining our results and comparing them to existing data revealed that testosterone EIAs had decreased linear correspondence with LC–MS/MS in comparison to cortisol EIAs. Overall, this paper provides researchers with information to better measure testosterone in their research and more accurately compare testosterone measurements across different methods.