Salimetrics Certified Saliva Testing Labs

RIGOR AND REPRODUCIBILITY: HOW GOOD ARE YOUR LAB RESULTS?

As researchers, we understand the necessity of minimizing variability from external sources that can negatively impact data interpretation. Variability can arise from many factors, such as differences between samples, participant noncompliance, specimen handling, differences between assay kits, and/or differences between laboratories. Controlling for sources of variability leads to higher data consistency, which is essential in establishing precise results and drawing reliable conclusions from generated data. Read More

COE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM SUMMARY

Qualification as a Salimetrics COE lab requires a combination of good salivary bioscience laboratory practices and demonstrated experience achieving quality salivary bioscience methods and testing. Participation in the Salimetrics saliva proficiency testing program is required for COE labs.

Labs are invited to participate in the program by first demonstrating compliance with quality salivary bioscience methods as evidenced by lab testing performance data. A questionnaire is also provided to document qualifications. Labs that have an ongoing relationship with Salimetrics are then requested to participate in the Salimetrics proficiency testing program to confirm proficiency by achieving accuracy and correlation with other certified labs. Labs who do not receive a ‘passing grade’ will be able to work with Salimetrics’ technical staff to improve but will not be recognized as a COE Lab until all requirements are met.

COE labs are expected to promote quality salivary bioscience methods to researchers by hosting or presenting “Spit Camps” and “Saliva Collection Workshops” which provide optimal collection methods for research studies, as well as help researchers think of ways to reduce variability and increase quality in their salivary bioscience research. Salimetrics provides a program guide for COE labs that encompasses a full two-day Spit Camp training session with a lab component. Salimetrics encourages COE labs to supplement Spit Camp with their own teaching materials prepared for the classroom and other salivary bioscience training sessions. Salimetrics will support COE labs, at no cost, with presentation materials and collection sample packs used by Salimetrics and other COE labs as part of Spit Camps. COE labs will also receive advanced notice of any important technical information and new product offerings from Salimetrics.

Labs qualified by Salimetrics as COE labs will be provided a certificate and featured on the Salimetrics’ COE webpage. Our webpage will link research scientists to the COE lab webpage and also provide contact information. Likewise, it is requested that the COE lab’s university/ organization allow a link from the COE lab’s website to Salimetrics, preferably where it lists saliva testing options. In addition to the website, Salimetrics will be promoting the COE lab to nearby researchers as the Salimetrics team travels to conferences and other university Spit Camp workshops.

The COE Lab certification program is a commitment to the rigor and reproducibility required for high quality Salivary Bioscience research, and Salimetrics looks forward to partnering with COE labs to provide credible, non-invasive, quantitative data.

WANT TO SEE IF YOUR LAB QUALIFIES AS A SALIVARY BIOSCIENCE COE LAB? ASK AN EXPERT TO GET STARTED;