Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory
Penn State University |
Assay Service
The BEL currently offers the following assays of biological markers in saliva and serum/plasma samples for research use. Price quotations available upon request.
Hormones Immune/Disease Markers Other
Cortisol Neopterin* Cotinine
Testosterone Beta-2-microglobulin*
DHEA PSA*
DHEA-S sIgA
Estradiol
Melatonin
Progesterone*
Oxytocin*
Androstenedione*Blood Spot Assays
Testosterone
Progesterone
Estradiol*Assays currently under development.
Correspondence
How to get in touch with us!
Investigators and students interested in more information can reach us by email psubel@psu.edu or phone (814) 863-5577.
Written correspondence should be addressed to Douglas A. Granger, Ph.D., Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, 302 Lubert Building, University Park, PA 16802.
Information for Shipping Samples
A BEL LAB sample submittal form must accompany each shipment of samples to our lab. To print BEL LAB Sample Submittal Form click here.
Shipping Instructions can be found here.
A Co-operative Service, Resource, and Research Lab
Penn State University provides the BEL's service and resources to researchers only. The lab is a co-operative. That is, it is entirely supported by its users and operates on a strict cost recovery basis--not for profit. User fees are reviewed and revised annually by the university controller. The lab's operational costs are fixed, which means that as the number of users increases each individual user benefits because the result is reduced user fees in the subsequent year.
Interdisciplinary Focus
The BEL facilitates projects that involve interdisciplinary collaborations across multiple fields and levels of analysis. Representative projects now underway are exploring hormones and emotional development in teenage pregnancy (Elizabeth J. Susman, Ph.D., PSU); social and pubertal development in sexually abused girls (Penelope Trickett, Ph.D., USC); effects of pharmacological and behavioral interventions on the stress-response to acute pain in pediatric populations (Lonnie Zeltzer, M.D., UCLA); hormones, family process, and child development (Alan Booth, Ph.D., PSU); hormones and cognitive sex differences (William Overman, Ph.D., UNC-W); emotionality and adolescent psychopathology (Carolyn Zahn-Waxler, Ph.D., NIMH); developmental psychopathology (Dante Cicchetti, Ph.D., MHFC-UR); and, stress and social affiliation in women (Shelley Taylor, Ph.D., UCLA). Projects are supported by funds from a range of public and private foundations, including W. T. Grant Foundation, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Mental Health, PSU Population Research Institute, National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, and Department of Veterans Affairs. The BEL is supporting the studies of more than 60 investigators at major research universities throughout the US, Canada, UK, and Western Europe.
Mission
The Behavioral Endocrinology Laboratory (BEL) at The Pennsylvania State University was founded in 1988 as a non-profit research facility fulfilling the service, research, and teaching objectives of the College of Health and Human Development. The lab is dedicated to assisting researchers throughout the world define the links among biological processes, behavior, and health.
- Service. The lab provides as a service to investigators assays to determine the concentrations of a range of hormones, immune markers, and metabolites and has specialized expertise in salivary assays. The highest quality testing is provided on a cost recovery basis.
- Consultation. Consultation services are available concerning the design, implementation, and analysis of biological assessments for investigators in the early stages of planning studies, writing PHS proposals and fielding research.
- Research. The lab conducts a program of research focused on the development of highly sensitive assays for biological markers in saliva for use in biobehavioral research.
- Teaching. Courses are offered in behavioral endocrinology to facilitate the cross-training of newly independent investigators, and graduate and undergraduate students in the behavioral sciences. Click here for more information regarding the Penn State Lab Practicum on salivary biomarkers.
Pride in Workmanship
BEL staff are committed to advancing our understanding of the links among biology, behavior, and health and human development by producing the highest quality product. Researchers are encouraged to consult with BEL staff before collecting samples so as to maximize the value of the information gained from each study.
Quality Control
All BEL assays are subjected to rigorous quality control criteria. Assays are required to demonstrate linearity, antibody specificity, and precision. Performance is monitored within and between each assay by inclusion of external controls representing each assays range of sensitivity. Intra-assay coefficients of variation are monitored for controls as well as unknowns. Sample results beyond criterion values are subject to re-assay. For large scale projects, reagents are purchased in bulk guaranteeing minimal variation in the quality of assay materials over the course of the study.
Staff
The BEL is staffed by experts and consultants with specialties in a diverse array of biological assessments.
Douglas A. Granger, Ph.D. - BEL Director ,
dag11@psu.eduMary Curran, ASCP(MT) - Research Technologist, MCurran@psu.edu
Jodi A. Heaton, Administrative Assistant I, JHeaton@psu.edu
Ruth Merritt, Research Support Technician, rxm50@psu.edu
Eve Schwartz, ASCP(MT) - Research Support Assistant, ebs1@psu.edu
Suggested Readings
Campbell, K.L. (1994). Blood, urine, saliva, and dip-sticks: Experiences in Africa, New Guinea, and Boston. Ann NY Acad Sci, 709, 312-330.
Clements, A. D., & Parker, C. R. (1998). The relationship between salivary cortisol concentrations in frozen versus mailed samples. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 23, 613-616.
Dabbs, J. M., Jr. (1990). Saliva testosterone measurements: Reliability across hours, days, and weeks. Physiology and Behavior, 48, 83-86.
Dabbs, J. M., Jr. (1991). Salivary testosterone measurements: Collecting, storing, and mailing saliva samples. Physiology and Behavior, 49, 815-817.
Gibson, E. L., Checkley, S., Papadopoulos, A., Poon, L., Daley, S., & Wardle, J. (1999). Increased salivary cortisol reliably induced by a protein-rich midday meal. Psychosomatic Medicine, 61, 214-224.
Granger, D. A., Schwartz, E. B., Booth, A., & Arentz, M. (1999). Salivary Testosterone Determination in Studies of Child Health and Development. Hormones and Behavior, 35, 18-27.
Granger, D. A., Schwartz, E. B., Booth, A., Curran, M., & Zakaria, D. (1999). Assessing dehydroepiandrosterone in saliva: A simple radioimmunoassay for use in studies of children, adolescents, and adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 24, 567-579.
Hucklebridge, F. H., Clow, A., Abeyguneratne, T., Huezo-Diaz, P., & Evans, P. (1999). The awakening cortisol response and blood glucose levels. Life Sciences, 64, 931-937.
Johannes, C. B., Stellato, R. K., Feldman, H. A., Longcope, C., & McKinlay, J. B. (1999). Relation of Dehydroepiandrosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate with Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Women: Longitudinal Results from the Massachusetts Women's Health Study. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 52, 95-103.
Jonetz-Mentzel, L., & Wiedemann, G. (1993). Reference ranges for cortisol in neonates, infants, children, and adolescents. Eur J Clin Chem Clin Biochem, 31, 525-9.
Kiess, W., Meidert, A., Dressendorfer, R. A., Schriever, K., Kessler, U., Konig, A., Schwarz, H. P., & Strasburger, C. J. (1995). Salivary cortisol levels throughout childhood and adolescence: Relation with age, pubertal stage, and weight. Pediatric Research, 37, 502-506.
Kirschbaum, C., Read, G. F., & Hellhammer, D. H. (1992). Assessment of Hormones and Drugs in Saliva in Biobehavioral Research. Kirkland, WA: Hogrefe & Huber Publishers.
Kirschbaum, C., Kudielka, B. M., Gaab, J., Schommer, N.C., & Hellhammer, D. H. (1999). Impact of Gender, Menstrual Cycle Phase, and Oral Contraceptives on the Activity of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis. Psychosomatic Medicine, 61, 154-162.
Lu, Y-C, Bentley, G. R., Gann, P., Hodges, K. R., & Chatterton, R. T. (1999). Salivary estradiol and progesterone levels in conception and nonconception cycles in women: Evaluation of a new assay for salivary estradiol. Fertility and Sterility, 71 863-868.
Malamud, D. & Tabak, L. (1993). Saliva as a Diagnostic Fluid. New York, NY: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Vol. 694.
Schwartz, E. B., Granger, D. A., Susman, E. J., Gunnar, M. R., & Laird, B. (1998). Assessing Salivary Cortisol in Studies of Child Development. Child Development, 69(6), 1503-1513.
Wolkowitz, O. M., Reus, V. I., Keebler, A., Nelson, N., Friedland, M., Brizendine, L., & Roberts, E. (1999). Double-blind treatment of major depression with dehydroepiandrosterone. American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 646-204.
