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Salivary Hormones

Updated over 4 months ago

Test Details

Lab Company: Access Medical Labs
​ Sample Type: Saliva
​ Collection Location: At Home

The various salivary hormone tests measure hormone levels at four points throughout the day.

Key Details

  • 👩 If you are a menstruating female, you must collect on specific days of your cycle.

  • 💊 If you are taking supplemental hormones, you must time your test properly after your last dosage.

  • 🍽️ DO NOT eat or drink for 2 hours before sample collection.

  • 💧 DO NOT drink caffeinated or alcoholic beverages on the collection day.

  • ❄️ Refrigerate your samples until you are ready to ship them.

  • 🚚 Samples should be shipped Monday - Friday only.

  • 🧪 If you have other Access Medical Labs tests (blood, stool, or urine), YOU MUST ship all of your samples together.

Preparation & Timing

  • If you are a male or non-menstruating female, you can test any day of the month.

  • If you are a menstruating female, collect according to the following schedule.

    • Regular periods:

      • Collect samples on Day 19, 20, or 21 of your cycle

        • Day 1 is the first day of your period.

    • Irregular periods:

      • Collect samples when you are not bleeding.

      • Collect closest to days 19, 20, and 21 of your cycle.

  • If you are taking supplemental hormones, collect your sample according to the following schedule.

    • Patch hormones applied daily

      • Collect samples 12-24 hours after applying the patch.

    • Hormones in a gel, spray, pill, or cream

      • Collect samples 12-24 hours after your last dosage.

    • Sublingual and troche hormones

      • Collect samples 36 hours after your last dosage.

    • Patches applied weekly or injections

      • Consult your healthcare provider regarding the timing of your doses and your sample collection.

  • Avoid the following activities for at least 2 hours before sample collection.

    • Drinking

    • Eating

    • Brushing your teeth

  • Avoid the following drinks on the collection day.

    • Caffeinated beverages

    • Alcoholic beverages

Collection Instructions

🗓️ Collection Schedule

REMEMBER: DO NOT eat, drink, or brush your teeth before collection.

For each collection,

  1. Rinse your mouth with water 15 minutes before collection.

  2. Wash your hands and dry them with a clean towel.

  3. Write the following information on one label.

    1. Patient's name

    2. Patient's date of birth

    3. Collection date

    4. Collection time

    5. If your samples are not properly labeled, you will be required to recollect your sample.

  4. Place the label on the tube.

  5. Collect saliva in the tube.

    1. DO NOT force saliva into the tube - let it flow into the tube.

    2. DO NOT get any phlegm into the tube.

    3. If you cannot produce saliva, try

      1. Yawning

      2. Smelling food

      3. Thinking of your favorite food

    4. If you make a mistake, rinse the tube with warm water ONLY, let it air dry, and collect again.

  6. Fill the tube with saliva up to the maximum line.

  7. Tightly seal the cap back onto the tube.

  8. Place the tube into the refrigerator until you are ready to ship.

    1. DO NOT freeze tubes.

REPEAT FOR EACH OF THE 4 COLLECTIONS.

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 sample.

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

📄 How to Complete Your Requisition

Shipping

❗️If you have other Access Medical Labs tests (blood, stool, or urine), YOU MUST ship all of your samples together.

  • Ship your samples via UPS as soon as possible after collection, Monday - Friday only.

    • Refrigerate your samples until you are ready to ship them.

  • To prepare your samples for shipping,

    • Make sure your samples are properly labeled.

    • Place the sample tubes into the biohazard bag.

    • Place the biohazard bag into the test kit box.

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

    • Place the test kit box into the provided, prepaid UPS bag.

    • Seal the UPS bag.

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

  • Take your samples to a UPS location.

    • DO NOT place your samples in a drop box.

Results

  • Results should be released to your provider 1-6 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.

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