Advances in laboratory diagnosis of Sjogren’s disease in children

•Pediatric Sjögren’s disease (SjD) lab diagnosis includes serology, saliva/tear analysis, histopathology, and biomarkers.•Autoantibodies like ANA, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB are key but specificity is limited in kids.•Salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) is a promising non-invasive tool for evaluating pediatric SjD gland involvement.•Studies on exosomal biomarkers aim for earlier and more accurate diagnoses. Sjogren’s disease (SjD) in children is a rare chronic autoimmune disease not fully recognized due to clinical manifestations different from adults. As such, new objective indicators are needed to supplement existing markers and assist in diagnosis. This review summarizes pathogenesis of SjD in children, current diagnostic criteria and research progress in laboratory diagnosis including serologic testing, saliva and tear analysis, histopathological examination as well as emerging markers of interest.