Saliva analysis by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF/MS): from sample collection to data analysis.

Background: Saliva is one of the most promising and easy-to-collect source of potential biomarkers of oral and systemic disease. We standardized a protocol suitable for pre-analytical treatment and for the analysis of whole normal saliva by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF/MS).

Methods: We evaluated the impact of storage time, freeze/thaw cycles, denaturing agents, glycoproteins depletion, centrifugation, type of matrix and ProteinChip used on the quality of the SELDI protein profile.