CAMbank: Saliva Collection (crude, v1) v1

This protocol outlines the standardized procedure for crude saliva collection from human subjects for downstream molecular and omics analyses. Designed for flexible use across terrestrial and spaceflight contexts, this method requires no preservatives and uses sterile, DNase/RNase-free collection tubes. Participants are instructed to spit directly into 5 mL screw-cap tubes until a minimum of 1 mL of saliva is obtained. Samples are immediately aliquoted into 500 μL portions in a sterile environment and frozen at −80°C. This crude saliva collection strategy has been implemented in both pre-flight and in-flight conditions aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule during the Inspiration4 mission. It enables the collection of sufficient sample volumes (150–4000 μL) to support analyses such as cytokine profiling, viral nucleic acid detection, hormone quantification, and potential transcriptomic or proteomic assays. While the absence of preservatives limits long-term stability at room temperature, crude saliva samples remain valuable for targeted assays and flight-compatible protocols. This protocol supports the broader objectives of the Space Omics and Medical Atlas (SOMA) initiative to develop scalable, modular biospecimen methods for human spaceflight research.