The advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of the iClean® Saliva Swab Collection Kit are as follows:

Advantages

• Non-invasive: Compared with methods such as blood collection, saliva collection is a non-invasive operation that does not cause pain or trauma to the person being sampled. It is especially suitable for children, the elderly, and those who have a fear of blood collection, which can improve their acceptance and cooperation with the testing.
• Simple Operation: The collection process is relatively straightforward and can be completed without the need for professional medical technicians. The person being sampled can collect the saliva sample by themselves under the guidance of a doctor or follow the instructions in the manual to complete the collection at home, and then send the sample to the testing institution by mail, saving time and medical resources.
• Safe Sample Collection: During the saliva collection process, there is no contact with substances such as human blood that may pose an infection risk. For both the collector and the person being sampled, it reduces the risk of contracting diseases, such as the risk of infection from blood-borne diseases like AIDS and hepatitis B.
• Good Repeatability: Saliva samples can be collected multiple times at different time points, which is convenient for dynamic monitoring of the same person being sampled. It helps to observe the development process of the disease, the effectiveness of treatment, etc., and provides more comprehensive data support for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
• Multiple Testing Purposes: Saliva contains a variety of biomarkers, such as viruses, bacteria, DNA, RNA, proteins, etc. Through the detection of these biomarkers, it can be used for the diagnosis of various diseases, such as oral diseases, infectious diseases, genetic diseases, etc. It can also be used in fields such as drug monitoring and health risk assessment.

Disadvantages

• Limited Sample Volume: The amount of sample obtained from a single saliva collection is usually limited and may not meet the requirements of some testing items that demand a large sample volume. For experiments that require a large amount of cell culture or highly sensitive detection, multiple collections or the use of other collection methods may be needed to supplement the sample.
• Limited Detection Sensitivity: Although saliva contains a variety of biomarkers, the content of certain biomarkers may be relatively low, resulting in relatively low detection sensitivity. For some early-stage or mild diseases, it may not be possible to accurately detect them through saliva testing, and there is a possibility of missed diagnosis.
• Many Interfering Factors: Factors such as diet, oral hygiene status, and saliva secretion volume can all affect the quality of the saliva sample and the test results. For example, the composition of saliva may change after eating, and oral inflammation, smoking, etc., may also cause the content of certain substances in saliva to increase or decrease, interfering with the accuracy of the test results.
• Not Suitable for All Testing Items: Not all testing items can be carried out through saliva samples. For some specific tests, such as detecting certain hormone levels in the blood or specific metabolites, saliva testing may not provide accurate information, and it is still necessary to collect blood or other biological samples.

Limitations

• Dependent on Testing Technology: The accuracy and reliability of its test results largely depend on the development level of testing technology and equipment. Currently, although there are various testing methods for saliva samples, for the detection of some complex diseases or rare diseases, there may still be technical bottlenecks that require further research and improvement.
• Lack of Unified Standards: There is still a lack of unified standards and specifications in the links of saliva collection, preservation, transportation, and testing. Different collection kits and different testing institutions may adopt different methods and procedures, which may lead to the lack of comparability of test results, causing certain troubles for clinical diagnosis and research.
• Restricted by Laws and Regulations: In some special cases, such as when used as evidence in court, the collection and testing of saliva samples may be restricted by laws and regulations. Because saliva sample collection is relatively easy, there may be a risk of sample tampering or contamination. Therefore, there may be certain limitations on the use and recognition of saliva samples in legal procedures.