DAY 1: Lecture and Pre-Analytical Lab Practicum
8:30 am – 2:30 pm: Lecture with Drs. Beth Thomas and Michael Hoyt
- Welcome and Introductions
- Overview of Agenda and Activities
- Theoretical Assumptions and Models
- Oral Fluids as Biological Specimens
- Analytes of Interest in Oral Fluid
- Saliva Collection, Handling, and Storage
- Research Design and Sampling Schemes
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm: Lunch Break
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm: Lecture with Drs. Beth Thomas and Michael Hoyt
- Basics of Salivary Assays
- Salivary Analyte Data Issues
Break
2:30 pm – 4:30 pm: Pre-Analytical Lab Practicum with IISBR Lab Team
Introduction to Laboratory equipment and Safety Training
- Introduction to the fundamentals of pipetting
- Volume Recovery Demonstration
Break
- Specimen Collection
- Pipetting Practice Session
- Sample Prep and Overnight Storage
Break
Before Bed: Assay Review Homework and First Sample Collection (SOS/Bedtime)
DAY 2: Analytical Lab Practicum and Data Discussion
Upon Waking: Second Sample collection (SOS/wake)
30 Min After Waking: Third Sample collection (SOS/+ 30)
8:30 am: Sample Drop Off
9:00 am – 12:00 am: Analytical Lab with IISBR Lab Team
- Sample Preparation
- Cortisol Assay Training part 1
Break
- Cortisol Assay Training part 2
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm: Lunch Break and Discussion with Drs. Beth Thomas and Michael Hoyt
- Lunch
- Open Discussion
12:45 pm – 2:45 pm: Analytical Lab with IISBR Lab Team
- Alpha Amylase Assay Training
Break
2:45 pm – 5:00 pm: Discussion with Drs. Beth Thomas and Michael Hoyt and IISBR Lab Team
- Cortisol Data Discussion
- Alpha Amylase Data Discussion
- Conclusion
- Q&A
5:00 pm – 5:15 pm: End of the Camp with Drs. Beth Thomas and Michael Hoyt and IISBR Lab Team
**PLEASE NOTE: LAB ATTIRE
While in the laboratory, you will be provided with laboratory coats to wear. No shorts or open-toed shoes are allowed for safety purposes. Please plan your attire accordingly.
DAY 3 (optional): Pre-analytic Data Processing and Basic Statistical Approaches
8:30 am – 10:00 pm: Understanding and importing data reported from the lab – Lecture and guided practice
- Review of lab-related data measures (e.g., calculating inter- and intra-assay CV, flow rate)
- Review of lab notes (e.g., contamination; dilution)
- Importing data into a statistical program
Break
10:15 am – 12:00 pm: Examining data quality and characteristics- Lecture
12:00 – 12:45 pm: Lunch Break and Discussion
12:45 pm – 2:15 pm: Examining data quality and characteristics- Guided Practice
- Missingness- causes and approaches
- Data distributions
- Identifying and addressing outliers
Break
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm: Computing and analyzing composite measures- Lecture and Guided Practice
Contact Us with any additional questions.