Caries risk test for predicting and assessing the risk of disease

A method for preventing or reducing the risk of a disease, the method comprising:

• obtaining an unfractionated saliva sample from a subject;
• contacting an aliquot of said saliva with two or more lectins under conditions that allow said two or more lectins to bind respectively to two or more lectin-binding components of said saliva;
• detecting the amounts of bound lectins;
• comparing the amounts of bound lectins to the respective amounts known to bind a saliva sample from a control subject, wherein the amounts of bound lectins are proportional to the risk of a disease in said subject;
• and
• administering a therapeutic reagent to said subject when the content of the components in said saliva are above or below the respective levels contained in a normal control.

A kit for detecting disease, the kit comprising:

• means for collecting a saliva sample;
• means for measuring the amounts of two or more lectin-binding components in said sample;
• and
• an oral fluid standard for comparing with the amounts of said components in said sample.