How to do Cortisol Saliva Tests

[Rhsana]

Hello all,

Quick Q!

When doing cortisol saliva tests (4 test tubes throughout the day) does it make a difference how active your day is? R x

[Hidden]

When I did mine, I had to do them at midnight 3 days in a row - that's because in "normal" people they don't produce cortisol at that time, whereas if you are testing for Cushing's, that when most cortisol is produced.

[humanbean]

The idea is that you should produce your saliva samples on a "typical day" (for most people - it is obviously different if Cushing's is being tested for). Assuming that you are getting a saliva test from Genova, there are instructions supplied with the test.

The test :

gdx.net/uk/product/adrenal-...

The instructions :

gdx.net/uk/core-uk/kit-inst...

The link to the instructions can be found on the first link under the heading "Additional Resources". You should read all the links.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Rhsana If it's a Genova test, the idea of the test is to measure what your cortisol and DHEA levels are like during a normal day for you. So whatever your normal day is like then carry on as usual. As the samples are put in the freezer, It's not time specific to get to the lab like a blood test, so you can do it any day, keep them in the freezer and just post it when convenient to arrive at the lab on a working day.

[Rhsana]

Thanks humanbean , SeasideSusie and Hidden ! All super helpful info! I had to work from home today so in that way it was a much more 'relaxed' day than normal. Is it worth redoing the tests tomorrow?

R x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Rhsana]

Well, if it was much more relaxed then it might be better doing it on a more normal day. I think you can rinse out the tubes and let them air dry, perhaps check the instructions.

[humanbean in reply to Rhsana]

It could be. You can wash out saliva tubes and then let them drain by themselves, then re-do the tests.

[Rhsana]

Ok thank you SeasideSusie humanbean ! Last question!! Sorry! Should I abstain from taking Thyroid meds on the day of collection?

[humanbean in reply to Rhsana]

No.

[Rhsana in reply to humanbean]

looks like it's back to the drawing board then!

[humanbean in reply to Rhsana]

Oh dear! Why?

[Rhsana in reply to humanbean]

With the Saliva tests, I'll do it tomorrow as I won't be working from home. And I find the commute a stressor, I guess withought those trips its not a fair reflection of 'a normal day'.

[humanbean in reply to Rhsana]

Freeze the cool block that is provided with the kit and keep your saliva tubes cold with the cool block. If you have access to a freezer at work it might be helpful to make use of it.

[Rhsana in reply to humanbean]

Yes, have three samples from today in the freezer, trying to decide if its worth redoing it all tomorrow or just sticking with today!

[humanbean in reply to Rhsana]

It's your decision.

(Put your speakers on and press play.)

dramabutton.com/

[Rhsana in reply to humanbean]

Ahahahahahhaha Brilliant! Thanks humanbean , my dad needed one of those, he used to call me his little drama queen. R x

[humanbean]

There are some supplements and meds that can affect cortisol.

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

rt3-adrenals.org/does_it_af...

One of the things it mentions on those lists is 5-HTP which I use as an anti-depressant. Nothing would induce me to stop taking it for two weeks, so I accept that I won't have a totally "clean" result. But I'm prepared to accept that and still test anyway.

I also take Holy Basil, but I wasn't taking that at the time I got my last saliva tests done. If I ever do another saliva test I'll have to think long and hard about whether or not I choose to stop the Holy Basil for a couple of weeks!

[Rhsana in reply to humanbean]

Amazing, thanks for all this!

[jacrjacr]

my dr had me to do the test a 8am 2pm 6pm and 10pm and I was to avoid supplements a couple days before......and most test include guidelines......

[Rhsana in reply to jacrjacr]

Thanks jacrjacr , yep the test includes guidelines, that wasn't really what I was asking about. It was more to do with what day to do it on, for example, if you do it on a Sunday usually for me that is considerably less 'stress' so it would not really be reflective of a 'normal' day. Therefore would that make a difference? The answer seems to be yes - do it on your most 'stressful' day to give a more accurate reading. R x

[jacrjacr in reply to Rhsana]

definitely be active and more your normal self ......I see what you mean.....I ran into this also and made sure I was really active that day to be the more common day for me ....