Validation of Collection and Extraction Methods of Saliva for Use in Biomarker Research

A biomarker is defined as a characteristic that is measured and evaluated as an indicator of a normal biological process, a pathogenic process, or a pharmacologic response to a therapeutic intervention. As such, biomarkers can be a genetic trait, a biochemical change, and/or a change in a structural or functional feature. These parameters are measured either by physical methods, or by using methods of biochemistry and molecular biology providing valuable information on certain disease or metabolic processes. Biomarkers can further be used to identify people who are at risk of a disease years or even decades before symptoms appear. Therefore, one of the most important goals of research in this field is to develop and validate biomarkers that can detect and identify disorders early.