Saliva Test May Someday Replace Blood Tests for Transplant Recipients

Transplant recipients may one day be able to shun the regular blood tests that must accompany the anti-rejection drugs they take in favor of a saliva test that researchers claim would be as easy as "spitting in a cup."

University of Rhode Island researcher Fatemeh Akhlaghi and her colleagues are researching the use of saliva as an alternative way to monitor medication levels and their potential effects on the body. Such a sample could be obtained at home, without the need for needles and trips to hospitals, clinics, laboratories or doctors' offices.

"(Anti-rejection) drugs are very toxic," Akhlaghi said. "Too much of them can damage other organs and too little can lead to rejection of the transplanted organ. That's why frequent monitoring through blood tests is necessary. Now, we are researching novel approaches for monitoring these medication levels."

Akhlaghi and colleague Anisha Mendonza are close to being able to measure the anti-rejection drug cyclosporin in saliva to determine optimum dosages. Akhlaghi and colleague Chirag Patel are examining other immunosuppressive drugs.

Other Sources: University of Rhode Island