In an initial test, a peach-flavored prototype reliably detected the pain reliever in six people’s saliva in less than two minutes. Participants also found it more comfortable and easier to use than traditional collection swabs.
Saliva offers a window on dosage
Acetaminophen is an ingredient in many over-the-counter products, including pain relievers, cold and flu medications and more. But taking more than the maximum recommended dose can cause serious side effects, such as liver damage.
This is especially concerning for children, who can be at risk of an unintentional overdose at low levels of the medication. Because acetaminophen concentrations in saliva closely reflect those in blood, Sina Khazaee Nejad, Maral Mousavi and colleagues thought saliva could be a simple, noninvasive way to monitor the medication’s levels.