Skip to main content

ZRT Blood Spot Tests

Updated yesterday

Test Details

Lab Company: ZRT
​Sample Type: Blood Spot
​Collection Location: At Home

ZRT's blood spot panels can include any combination of biomarkers chosen by your practitioner.

Key Details

  • 🩸 If you are a menstruating woman, you may need to collect your sample on specific days of your cycle..

  • 💊 You must avoid certain medications before your test.

  • ☀️ Collect your sample within an hour of waking.

  • 🚚 Ship samples back to the lab as soon as possible after collection.

Preparation & Timing

  • If you are a menstruating woman collecting estradiol (E2), progesterone, or testosterone,

    • Regular cycles: Collect on Day 19, 20, or 21 of your cycle.

      • Day 1 is the first day of your period.

    • Irregular cycles: Collect 5 days before your period starts.

    • Unpredictable cycles: Collect any day you are not bleeding.

  • If you are a menstruating woman collecting follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for fertility,

    • Collect on Day 3 of your menstrual cycle.

  • If you are a child, a non-menstruating woman, or a menstruating woman not collecting any of the above tests, you can collect your sample at any time.

  • If you are taking steroids, talk to your healthcare practitioner about proper timing.

  • If you are taking any of the following medications, test halfway between doses.

    • Hormone patches

    • Vaginal rings

    • Hormone pellets

    • Hormone injectables

  • If you are taking topical, oral, sublingual, or troche hormones,

    • 2 days before collection

      • Avoid applying topical hormones with your bare hands. Use latex gloves, an applicator, or a hormone-loaded syringe.

    • 1 day before collection

      • Take/apply any night dosage at least 12 hours before your planned morning collection.

      • Change sheets, pillowcases, and hand towels the night before collection.

      • Avoid touching any surfaces that may be contaminated with hormones.

  • Avoid the following items for 3 days before collection.

    • Anti-aging/anti-wrinkle face creams

    • 7-Keto DHEA

  • Collect your sample within an hour of waking.

Collection Instructions

  1. Wash your hands with soap and water.

  2. Dry your hands with a clean towel.

  3. Try one of the following activities to increase circulation.

    1. Rubbing your hands together

    2. Swinging your arms around several times

    3. Shaking your arms

    4. Doing a few jumping jacks

  4. Write the following information on the collection card.

    1. Full name

    2. Date of collection

    3. Time of collection

  5. Fold the collection card cover away from the filter paper (which has circles for blood collection).

    1. DO NOT touch the filter paper.

  6. Tape the card to a low surface (such as a table) with the filter paper facing out.

  7. Open the sterile gauze and alcohol pad.

  8. Wash and dry your hands again.

  9. Clean the tip of the middle or ring finger on your non-dominant hand with the provided alcohol pad.

  10. Twist off the small cap to break the seal of the lancet.

    1. DO NOT touch the tip of the lancet.

  11. Place the tip of the lancet against the side of your fingertip.

  12. Press down firmly until you hear a click.

  13. Wipe away the first drop of blood with the sterile gauze.

  14. Position your finger above the collection card.

  15. Gently stroke the pricked finger from the base of the finger to just above the puncture site to allow a large drop of blood to form.

    1. AVOID strong repetitive pressure on the pricked finger. This may cause contamination of the sample

  16. Hold the finger downward to allow the blood to drop onto the collection card circles.

    1. DO NOT touch the card with your finger.

    2. DO NOT rub or smear the sample.

  17. Place one drop per circle.

    1. Make sure the blood fills at least 3/4 of the circle and saturates through to the back of the card.

  18. Collect blood until all circles are filled.

    1. If blood stops flowing before you are finished, firmly wipe the finger with the gauze to get the blood flowing again.

    2. You can use the second lancet and another finger, if necessary.

  19. Bandage your finger.

  20. Leave the card open to dry for at least 4 hours.

    1. Keep the card in a cool, dry location away from sunlight.

  21. Once the card is dry, fold the cover over the blood spots.

  22. Place the card and completed test requisition form in the test kit.

  23. Place the test kit inside the provided envelope.

  24. Place the prepaid label on the envelope and mail via the carrier indicated on the label.

Requisition & Payment

  • Your kit has been prepaid. You DO NOT need to pay anything extra.

  • You must complete your requisition form and send it back with your samples.

    • Since you pre-paid for your tests, you do not need to fill in the payment information on this form.

📄 Instructions for Completing Your Requisition

Shipping

  • Ship samples as soon as possible after collection.

  • To prepare your sample for shipping,

    • Place the collection card into the test kit.

    • Place the completed test requisition form into the test kit.

    • Place the test kit inside the provided envelope.

    • Place the prepaid label on the envelope.

  • Most samples will be shipped via USPS or UPS. Please check your label to determine the carrier.

  • Make a note of the tracking number on the return mailer so that you can track your samples back to the lab.

Results

  • Results should be released to your provider 3-5 business days after samples are received at the lab. Rupa Health cannot guarantee processing time.

More Resources

Questions?

Reach out to Rupa Health via the chat in your patient portal.

Did this answer your question?