Procurement, Transportation, and Storage of Saliva, Buccal Swab, and Oral Wash Specimens

Saliva and oral/buccal samples have become increasingly valuable sources of genetic material for clinical applications. The DNA obtained by these samples is of comparable quality to that from blood samples. This, coupled with the ease of collecting saliva and oral/buccal samples, has led to increased numbers of such samples being incorporated into biobanks. This chapter will detail the steps involved in procuring, transporting, and storing saliva, buccal swabs, and oral wash samples for further use in downstream applications.