Objective: To evaluate methods of detecting various component in the trace sample of the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).
Methods: One sample of GCF was collected from four patients with mild or moderate periodontitis. At first, one half (group A)of every sample was measured for interleukin-6 (IL-6) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and then detected for Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in the same sample .Another half (group B) of the sample was used as control for the measurement of Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Another sample of GCF was collected from nine patients with abutment and non-abutment because of the distal extension teeth lost resulted from the chronic periodontitis. At first, one half (group C) of the sample was detected for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha ) by ELISA and then measured for elastase in the same sample. Another half (group D) of the sample was used as control for the measurement of elastase.
Results: There was no significant difference of both the measured value of IL-1beta absorbency (group A and B are 0.5 +/- 0.4 and 0.5 +/- 0.4, respectively, P=0.136)and that of elastase absorbency (group C and D are 1.1 +/- 0.6 and 1.1 +/- 0.6, respectively, P=0.943) between the original elution and the sample after detection of IL-6 or TNF-alpha in the test 1 and test 2, respectively. Moreover, the values showed high correlation (r=0.993, P=0.000 in the group A and B; r=0.979, P=0.000 in the group C and D).
Conclusion: It is practicable that one sample of GCF can be reused to examine for several components of GCF.