Drop Date: August 2025

Doing better with your research samples

To a principal investigator (PI), poor quality technical precision is measurement error (ME). ME is rarely catastrophic on its own, but it introduces noise, complicates analysis, reduces statistical power, and raises questions (and costs) that distract from discovery. In the world we live in, high-quality assay data is a prerequisite.

We were recently contacted by a PI working with a university research lab that had unusually high repeat rates in their sample analysis. Their assay runs had an average of 25% of samples exceeding intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) threshold standards. By comparison, Salimetrics CoreLab+ averages a repeat rate of less than 0.05%. These metrics index technical replication and reflect how well the assay was performed in the hands of the lab technician or user. A figure of < 1% is exceptional, and 25% is obviously very poor – more often, the result is a compromise of somewhere in between. Achieving repeat rates of less than 0.05% requires rigorous assay execution, professional technical staff, and standardized workflows. Doing so enables delivery of consistent, high-quality assay data that makes for stronger findings.

A core part of Salimetrics Commitment is supporting studies with precision tools and reliable, validated workflows. This commitment in-turn makes salivary biomarker data more accessible, reliable, and scientifically meaningful, reinforcing the credibility and impact of published research, so your data can speak clearly and stand up to scrutiny.

The Impact of Imprecision

The effects of measurement error can be quantified and accounted for at scale, but its consequences can be profound, especially within smaller individual or pilot studies. These effects, when unaccounted for, can blur biological signals, dampen the detection of biobehavioral relationships, and undermine otherwise well-designed experiments. The risks apply to cross-sectional and longitudinal data. Across months or years, maintaining consistency in your methodology, like timing, collection devices, assay calibration, and storage conditions, directly affects the comparability of results between waves.

What Makes Data High-Quality?

Data quality reflects the process that generates it. Precision doesn’t happen by chance; it is engineered through rigorous methods at every step. Achieving this level of quality requires deliberate systems that minimize variability and enforce precision, as well as a high degree of experience specialized in saliva and dried-blood spots (DBS), and these controls are even more essential for studies with multiple sampling waves.

Salimetrics has continually invested in building robust systems and refining processes that ensure consistency across studies for over 25 years. All Salimetrics labs utilize gold-standard assays and validated collection methods that adhere to strict quality metrics, including repeatability and reliability. We are CLIA certified, FDA registered, ISO 13485:2016 compliant, and have bioscience experts widely available and ready to support your team.

A Collaborative Approach

Strong science comes from strong practices. Many research teams have standardized with Salimetrics in their workflows and methods, and the results serve them well and align with their study goals. If your systems are producing high-quality, reproducible data, that’s a success for you and for the entire scientific community.

If you’re seeking a partner with extensive experience in salivary biospecimen analysis, we’re here to support your efforts. We offer more than just precision tools, rigorous protocols, and decades of focused expertise, we offer resources that can help reinforce the integrity of your data and streamline the complexities of your saliva and DBS research.

If you need more information, Contact Salimetrics. We are here to help you do what you do best.