SALIVA TESTING
Saliva testing is a non-invasive collection method where patients collect their saliva in plastic tubes in order to measure hormones like cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, and androgens. This non-invasive saliva collection is ideal for patients because it allows them to collect their sample in the privacy of their home or office.
Steroid hormones in the bloodstream are 95-99% bound to carrier proteins, and in this form are unavailable to target tissues. Saliva testing measures the amount of hormone available to target tissues – the bioavailable amount. For this reason, saliva testing better relates to specific symptoms of excess or deficiency, and is a good option for monitoring hormone therapy.
Some analytes cannot be tested using immunoassays, the methodology used for most of our saliva testing. For that reason, ZRT developed LC-MS Saliva Steroid Profiles using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These profile tests a broad range of bioavailable hormones and hormone metabolites in one convenient saliva sample collection. LC-MS testing allows for accurate reporting of estrogens down to extremely low levels, such as those seen in men, children, and people using aromatase inhibitors, and includes a test for ethinyl estradiol, 3 hormone blockers, and melatonin. To learn more about what you can test with our LC-MS Saliva Steroid Profiles, view our LC-MS Provider Data Sheet.
ZRT is one of the first labs to measure hormones in saliva and helped establish the method that made saliva hormone testing commercially viable for health care providers and patients around the globe.
Best Practices for Saliva Testing
ZRT measures hormones from a single morning sample, which represents the peak of daily hormone production – the optimal time to measure
Best Practices for Saliva Testing
ZRT measures hormones from a single morning sample, which represents the peak of daily hormone production – the optimal time to measure
Unlike other labs, patients do not need to stop hormone supplementation to use ZRT’s testing because we have ranges adjusted for age, menstrual status and supplementation types. This is the ideal method for tracking the effectiveness of hormone treatments.
ZRT does not pool patient samples, meaning that we don’t mix multiple daily samples together to get an average hormone level. Instead we measure hormones from a single morning sample, which represents the peak of daily hormone production – the optimal time to measure.
ZRT is the only lab to perform an extraction process for saliva testing, which separates hormones from background contamination. This is the only way to assure accurate test results for low-concentration hormones such as estradiol.
ZRT initiated and manages the industry-wide standards program called the Saliva Proficiency Inter-laboratory Testing Program – which enables laboratories to regularly evaluate and improve saliva testing accuracy.
Webinar: Pros & Cons of Testing Steroid Hormones in Saliva
Saliva Test Kit Includes:
Saliva Profile I – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx1
Saliva Profile II – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx2
Saliva Profile III – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx4 (Sample Report)
Hormone Trio – E2, Pg & T
Diurnal Cortisol – Cx4
NEW! Saliva Steroid LC-MS Hormone Profile 7 - E2, E1, E3, Pg, T, DHEAS, & C (learn more)
Saliva Steroid LC-MS Profile 23 – E2, E3, E1, EE, PregS, Pg, AlloP, 17OHPg, Adione, T, DHT, D, DS, 7keto, 11DC, C, Cn, Ccn, Ald, Mel, ANZ, FIN & LTZ (Sample Report)
Saliva + Blood Test Kit Includes:
Female Comprehensive Profile I – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx4 (saliva); TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (blood spot) (Sample Report)
Female Comprehensive Profile II – Cx4 (saliva); E2, Pg, T, SHBG, DS, TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (blood spot) (Sample Report)
Male Comprehensive Profile I – E2, T, DS & Cx4 (saliva); PSA, TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (blood spot) (Sample Report)
Male Comprehensive Profile II – Cx4 (saliva); E2, T, DS, SHBG, PSA, TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (blood spot) (Sample Report)
Adrenal Stress Test Kit Includes:
Adrenal Stress Profile – DS & Cx4 (Sample Report)
Weight Management Test Kit Includes:
Weight Management – E2, Pg, T, Cx4 (saliva); TSH, D2, D3, In, HbA1c (blood spot)
Weight Management + Thyroid – E2, Pg, T, DS, Cx4 (saliva); TSH, D2, D3, In, HbA1c, fT3, fT4, TPOab (blood spot)
Weight Management + Cardio – E2, Pg, T, DS, Cx4 (saliva); TSH, D2, D3, In, HbA1c, hsCRP, TG, CH, LDL, VLDL, HDL (blood spot)
Weight Management + Thyroid + Cardio – E2, Pg, T, DS, Cx4 (saliva); TSH, D2, D3, In, HbA1c, fT3, fT4, TPOab, hsCRP, TG, CH, LDL, VLDL, HDL
Neurotransmitters Test Kit Includes:
Neurotransmitters + Saliva Steroids GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA, Trp, Kyn, 3-OHKyn, Tau, Gln, His, N-MeHist, Tyra, KynAc, Xanth, Tyr, Crtn (dried urine); E2, Pg, T, DS, C (saliva)
Cortisol Awakening Response Test Kit Includes:
Cortisol Awakening Response Profile (CAR) – DS & Cx6 (Sample Report)
ZRT Test Directory & Abbreviations
LC-MS Saliva Steroid Reference Ranges
LC-MS Saliva Steroid Provider Data Sheet
