Become a Salimetrics Center of Excellence (COE)

The Salimetrics Center of Excellence (COE) Program

Is your lab a High Quality Salivary Bioscience Lab? The primary goal of the Salimetrics Center of Excellence (COE) program is to promote credible scientific research findings through better saliva testing methods. This goal is accomplished by helping research scientists find and use qualified and experienced testing labs, and by encouraging other labs to improve so that they achieve the level of accuracy, correlation and quality that would qualify them as a COE lab.

COE 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.

Certificate of Excellence Program Mission

Promote reproducible scientific findings through saliva testing methods
Facilitate research by pointing scientists to credible, qualified and experienced testing labs
Encourage other labs to raise their level of accuracy and significance

Center of Excellence Lab Requirements

Current, experienced Salimetrics assay user that performs a minimum of 5,000 salivary tests/year
Provide high-quality, meaningful data as evidenced by lab testing performance data including standards, controls and replicate data that meet COE lab requirements
Demonstrate proficiency in Salimetrics Saliva proficiency program
Demonstrate and maintain experienced staff trained in salivary bioscience; quality, calibrated equipment; and reasonable processing times

Center of Excellence Lab Expectations

Promote quality salivary bioscience methods to researchers
Provide accurate collection/handling instructions and advice in accordance with current salivary bioscience best practices
Promote content or distribute Salimetrics’ Salivary Bioscience Bulletins and White Papers
Refer to Salimetrics on your lab website (if Institution regulations allow)
Ability to host a Spit Camp or Saliva Collection Workshop at least once every 2 years, if requested

Center of Excellence Lab Benefits

Lab featured in a select group of certified high-quality salivary bioscience labs
Referral link to your COE lab on Salimetrics COE website page
Publicity at near-by Salimetrics workshops, conferences and contacts
Salivary bioscience education and training support to deliver high-quality results that meet the standards of rigor and reproducibility
COE lab certificate and start up package, including COE logo for use by lab
Presentation materials and training support for Spit Camps and Saliva Collection Workshops, including syllabus, training workbook and saliva collection sample packs
Stay in contact with technical and product updates
Advance notice of assay development, protocol changes and new technical information
Connection to the Salimetrics’ SalivaLab, UCI IISBR and other COE labs for salivary bioscience best practices, trouble shooting and information sharing

Want to see if your lab qualifies as a Salivary Bioscience COE Lab? Ask an Expert to get started;

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