What is the recommended surface for saliva collection?

The recommended surface for saliva collection is sterile gauze pads or swabs. This method is ideal because these materials are designed to be absorbent and can facilitate the collection of saliva without contamination. Sterile gauze pads or swabs also minimize the risk of introducing substances that may interfere with the integrity of the saliva sample, providing a cleaner and more accurate specimen for testing.

In contrast, while plastic containers or glass containers may be used for various types of biological samples, they are not specifically tailored for the unique requirements of saliva collection. Metal surfaces are also unsuitable because they can react with the components of saliva, potentially altering the sample’s characteristics. Using sterile gauze pads or swabs ensures that the collected sample is as uncontaminated and representative as possible, which is critical for reliable analysis.