Minimally invasive sampling of corticosteroids

What is it about?

A review of the measurement of corticosteroid hormones in minimally-invasive sampling media, and the application of these measurements to the assessment of stress responses. Sampling media include, saliva, feces, hair and milk of mammals. In birds, sampling media include excreta, feathers, egg yolk and albumin. In fish, swim water is the most commonly employed media.

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Why is it important?

Corticosteroid hormones are measured as biomarkers of stress responses. Blood samples can be difficult to collect and the process can be a confounding stressor. Minimally-invasive sampling media can mitigate these factors but impose thier own limitations on the measurement and interpretation of corticosteroids as they relate to stress responses. For example, salivary cortisol provides an assessment of stress over periods of minutes and hair cortisol over many weeks.