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A test that uses earwax to measure cortisol levels had the potential to “transform the diagnostics and treatment of millions of people with depression,” according to the results of a small study.
Research results, published in the journal Propeller, found that earwax samples contained more stress hormone than hair samples and could provide a more accurate method for measuring chronic cortisol concentration.
Earwax samples were less likely to be affected by confounding factors, such as short-term stressful events and alcohol consumption, the researchers said.
“Sampling cortisol is notoriously difficult, as hormone levels can fluctuate, so a sample may not be an accurate reflection of a person’s chronic cortisol levels,” explained Dr. Andres Herane-Vives of the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, who led the study.
“Furthermore, the sampling methods themselves can induce stress and influence the results,” he added.
The device can be used at home
Dr. Herane-Vives has developed an earwax sampling device that can be used at home without clinical supervision.
The researchers brought in 37 participants to test different cortisol sampling techniques.
Earwax from both ears was extracted using a standard syringe procedure which is commonly associated with local pain.
A month later, earwax from the left ear was obtained using the same procedure.
Meanwhile, the same participants obtained earwax samples from their right ear using the new device.
The researchers also analyzed hair samples that represented the previous month’s cortisol production and serum samples that reflected the effect of systemic stressors on cortisol levels.
The study found that the self-sampling device did not increase cortisol locally. It also provided a cortisol level that was less likely to be affected by confounders in the previous month.
“Accurate and affordable”
The authors said self-obtained earwax samples could provide an accurate but more cost-effective alternative way to measure chronic cortisol concentration.
Dr Herane-Vives said earwax had similar properties to another natural wax, honeycomb, known for its preservative properties and resistance to bacterial contamination. These properties made it suitable for home sampling and the ability to be sent for laboratory analysis with low risk of contamination.
Dr Herane-Vives said, “After this successful pilot study, if our device withstands further scrutiny in larger studies, we hope to transform the diagnostics and care of millions of people with depression or cortisol-related conditions such as Addison’s disease and Cushing’s syndrome and potentially numerous other conditions. “
The researchers said the test could be used to measure glucose levels and potentially COVID-19 antibodies that build up in earwax.
Dr. Herane-Vives created a company, Trears, to bring the device to market with funding from the startup incubator UCL Hatchery.
Measurement of the cortisol concentration in earwax using a non-stressful sampling method. Heliyon. Published November 4, 2020.
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