A Comparison of Saliva Collection Methods With Preschool Children: The perspectives of Children, Parents, and Childcare Practitioners

Saliva offers developmental researchers and pediatric clinicians significant opportunities to measure numerous biological markers. However, many preschool-aged children refuse to participate in saliva collection. Identifying collection methods known to be acceptable to participants may help in maximizing participation. To this end, this study aimed to determine the relative acceptability of three different collection methods (passive drool, hydrocellulose microsponges, and polymer swabs) to children and their caregivers. Interviews were carried out with 15 preschool children (age range 32–66 months, M = 43.65, SD = 8.45), their parents, and childcare practitioners. Although children reported no overall preference for a specific method, parents and practitioners selected hydrocellulose microsponges most often as their preferred method.