Screening test and procedure using apocrine sweat

A method of diagnosing a disease state or physiological condition in a living mammal comprising:

• a. collecting liquid or vapor components of apocrine gland secretions in a collection means positioned in the underarm, groin or mammary area of the mammal and, after a sufficient collection period,
• b. removing the collection means and analyzing the liquid or vapor components collected for the presence of a marker compound or compounds in the apocrine gland secretions, said marker compound or compounds being indicative of the existence of the diseased state or physiological condition and not being present in the absence of said disease state or physiological condition.

A method of diagnosing a disease state or physiological condition in a living mammal comprising:

• a. collecting liquid or vapor components of apocrine gland secretions in a collection means positioned in the underarm, groin or mammary area of the mammal and, after a sufficient collection period,
• b. removing the collection means and analyzing the liquid or vapor components collected for the presence of a marker compound or compounds in the apocrine gland secretions,
• said marker compound or compounds being indicative of the existence of the diseased state or physiological condition by being present in quantities elevated over levels existing in apocrine sweat in the absence of said disease state or physiological condition, the presence of the marker compound in apocrine sweat also being proportionally greater than in eccrine sweat simultaneously collected when compared to apocrine sweat and eccrine sweat under normal physiological conditions or in the absence of the disease.

A method of determining histocompatability between two individuals comprising:

• a. collecting from each individual liquid or vapor components of apocrine gland secretions in a collection means positioned in the underarm, groin or mammary area of the mammal and, after a sufficient collection period,
• b. removing the collection means and analyzing the liquid or vapor components collected for the presence of a marker compound or compounds in the apocrine gland secretions of each individual said marker compound or compounds being indicative of the existence of histocompatability between said individuals.

A method of identifying markers or antibodies against said markers indicative of a specific disease state or physiological condition in an individual comprising:

• a. collecting a first sample of liquid or vapor components of apocrine gland secretions in a collection means positioned in the underarm, groin or mammary area of the individual known to have the specific disease state or physiological condition,
• b. collecting a second sample of liquid or vapor components of apocrine gland secretions in a collection means positioned in the underarm, groin or mammary area of an individual known to not have the disease state or physiological condition, and
• c. comparing the first sample with the second sample collected to determine compounds in the first sample not existing, or existing at lesser concentrations, in the second sample, said compounds being marker compounds or antibodies against said marker compounds indicative of the existence of the specific diseased state or physiological condition.