Test Details
Lab Company: ZRT
Sample Type: Blood Spot, Saliva
Collection Location: At Home
The Fertility Profile measures a variety of hormones to help diagnose hormone-related causes of infertility.
Key Details
You will collect blood spot and saliva samples.
You can collect your samples while using fertility medications (such as clomid and letrozole). Note any fertility medications on your test requisition form.
You can collect your saliva samples on any day of the month.
Your blood spot samples must be collected on a specific day of your cycle.
If you are not shipping your saliva samples within 24 hours of completing collection, place them in the freezer until you ship.
Preparation & Timing
Avoid the following medications for 3 days prior to collecting your blood spot and saliva samples:
7-Keto DHEA
Anti-aging/anti-wrinkle face creams
For 2 hours prior to each saliva collection, do not
Eat
Drink anything but water
Brush your teeth
If you are using topical, oral, troche, or sublingual hormones,
Take any night dosage at least 12 hours before you will collect your first morning sample.
Avoid using hormones on the face, lips, and neck.
For at least 2 days prior to collection, do NOT use your bare hands for topical hormone application.
Change your sheets, pillowcases, and hand towels the night before collecting your samples.
Avoid touching surfaces that may be contaminated with traces of hormones.
If you are using hormone patches, vaginal rings, pellets, or injectables,
Collect your samples halfway between doses.
If you are doing daily morning injections, do injections AFTER collecting your sample.
If you are doing injections every night, they can be taken as usual. Note them on the requisition form.
If you are taking steroids, talk to your healthcare practitioner about appropriate collection timing.
Collection timing depends on whether or not you are a non-menstruating woman or a menstruating woman.
Timing - Non-Menstruating Women
You will collect 1 blood spot card and 4 saliva samples.
You can collect your samples on any day of the month.
Timing - Menstruating Women
You will collect 2 blood spot cards and 4 saliva samples.
Saliva samples: Collect on any day of the month.
Blood spot card #1: Collect on Day 3 or 4 of your cycle.
Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period.
This is your follicular sample.
Blood spot card #2: Collect during the luteal phase of your cycle.
Regular cycle
Collect 7 days after LH surge/ovulation.
If you don't know your ovulation day, collect on Day 19, 20, or 21 of your cycle.
Long cycle (over 28 days)
Collect 7 days after LH surge/ovulation.
If you don't know your ovulation day, collect on Day 21 of your cycle.
Short cycle (less than 23 days)
Collect 5 days after LH surge/ovulation.
If you don't know your ovulation day, collect on Day 15 of your cycle.
Unpredictable cycle
Collect any day you are not bleeding
Collection Instructions
Follow the preparation information above to determine the proper timing for your samples.
Saliva Instructions
Collect your first sample within 30 minutes of waking.
Use the LARGE TUBE.
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Dry your hands with a clean towel.
Rinse your mouth with water.
Wait 5 minutes before beginning collection.
Allow saliva to pool in your mouth, then transfer it to the tube.
If you have trouble producing saliva, try
Smelling food
Thinking of your favorite food
Yawning
Pressing the tip of your tongue against your teeth
Fill the tube at least half full, not including bubbles.
Collection usually takes 15-30 minutes.
When done, cap the tube tightly.
Write your name, the date of collection, and the time of collection on the tube.
Place the tube back into the bag.
Repeat steps 2-10 for each of the other collections.
Use the small tubes for collections 2-4.
Do not eat, drink anything but water, or brush your teeth for at least 2 hours prior to each collection.
Collection 2: Before lunch
Collection 3: Before dinner
Collection 4: Before bed
Freeze your samples if not shipping within 24 hours.
If you make a mistake collecting your samples,
Rinse the tube out with hot water (no soap).
Shake out any remaining water.
Air dry.
Re-collect at the appropriate time the next day.
Blood Spot Instructions
Collect your samples within 1 hour of waking.
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Dry your hands with a clean towel.
Shake your arms and rub your hands together to get your blood flowing.
Write your name, date, and time of collection on the collection card.
Fold the collection card cover away from the filter paper (which has circles for blood collection).
Do NOT touch the filter paper.
Tape the card to a low surface (such as a table) with the filter paper facing out.
Open the sterile gauze and alcohol pad.
Use the alcohol pad to wipe the fingertip you will use for collection.
It is best to use the ring or middle finger on your non-dominant hand.
Wait 15-30 seconds for your finger to dry.
Remove the lancet’s cap.
Press the tip of the lancet against the inside tip of your finger.
Press the tip firmly against your finger until it activates (it should click).
Wipe away the first drop of blood with the sterile gauze.
Position your finger above the collection card.
Gently stroke your finger from the base to the tip to form a blood drop.
Do NOT over-squeeze your finger.
Touch the tip of the drop to the filter paper.
Do NOT touch the paper with your finger.
Place one drop per circle.
Each drop should fill at least ¾ of the circle.
Each drop should saturate the filter paper to the other side.
Collect blood until all circles are filled.
If blood stops flowing before you are finished, firmly wipe the finger with the gauze to get the blood flowing again.
You can use the second lancet and another finger, if necessary.
Bandage your finger.
Leave the card open to dry for at least 30 minutes.
Keep the card in a cool, dry location away from sunlight.
Once the card is dry, fold the cover over the blood spots.
Place the card into the test kit box.
Requisition & Payment
Your kit has been prepaid. You DO NOT need to pay anything extra.
Instructions on how to fill out your requisition can be found HERE.
Since you pre-paid for your tests, you do not need to fill in the payment information on any of these forms.
Shipping
Ship your samples back to the lab as soon as possible after collection.
Freeze your saliva samples if not shipping within 24 hours of completing saliva collection.
To prepare your sample for shipping,
Place the blood spot collection card into the test kit box.
Place the bag containing your saliva samples into the test kit box.
Place the completed test requisition form into the test kit box.
Securely close the test kit box.
Place the test kit box into the provided return mailer.
Affix the prepaid label to the mailer.
Make a note of your tracking number so 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. We cannot guarantee processing time.
Your provider will notify you when your results are in and schedule a follow-up appointment for you to review them together.
More Resources
Questions?
For general questions, email Rupa Health at [email protected]. For test-specific questions, contact ZRT by calling 503-466-2445.