Cortisol testing - does it matter which day?

[moniacho]

I’ve purchased saliva cortisol+DHEA test but I have an issue deciding which day to take the samples. Since I have to commute to work for about 45min each day I would prefer to avoid colleting on a weekday in case the sample taken at work defrosts on my way home. Therefore, my only option is to collect on a Sunday and send on Monday. Now the silly question: will collecting on a generally relaxed day (no traffic, no work demands) affect my cortisol results in any way? For example, if the results were LOW at midday, would it mean generally low, or low that day because I was lazing about? Sorry if its really daft question…

[humanbean]

Sorry, I'm not clear. Can you freeze your samples at work? If you can and you only have to keep it frozen on the journey home then I would suggest using a thermos flask with ice cubes in and also the frozen block supplied by the company, then put the sample into the middle of it. It should stay frozen for that length of time without defrosting.

[moniacho in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean , yes I can freeze it at work. And if I used thermos flask with ice cubes (great suggestion by the way) then I guess it should survive frozen until I get home. So do you think its better to do it on my usual/stressful day then?

[humanbean in reply to moniacho]

Yes, I do.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I did mine on a Saturday, popped them in the freezer as soon as done. Left them in the freezer all day Sunday, took them out mid afternoon on Monday for 4.30pm collection by Special Delivery Next Day by 1pm.

[moniacho in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie , I was hoping you will see my question I didnt know the samples can stay in the freezer for that long, the instructions say to send it next day. But I guess when its frozen its frozen, whether 24h or 48h the levels in the sample will be the same.

Did you pack your samples with the ice pack into the white polystyrene box and then in the cardboard box to keep it together? Or did you tape the white box to close it?

Also, I thought that Royal Mail has a restriction regarding sending ice or frozen items or something like that, did they ask you at the post office whats in the box when you dropped it there?

Thank you for the advice and for suggesting Regenerus Labs in the first place.

[Peanut31 in reply to moniacho]

Hi moniacho

I did one recently, I think Royal Mail Restrictions are the measurements of liquid you send. I’m positive it stated that on the Royal Mail label.

In my box there was a Royal Mail label (which you stick to the returned box) stating that it was only xxx amount of liquid in the box. The staff at the post office were fine with this.

Yes, they did ask me what was in the box and I said spit samples, not very posh, should of said saliva.

I put it in the silver freezer bag then placed it in the cardboard box and Sellotaped it as well, there was a white sticker you also used to help seal the box shut, like a anti tamper sticker.

Hope that helps

Best wishes

Peanut31

[moniacho in reply to Peanut31]

Thanks Peanut31 . I was worried to send it by Royal Mail but seems that a number of people is doing it sucesfully. Thank you for your advice.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to moniacho]

Moniacho

As you say, frozen is frozen and I don't think an extra 24 hours will make any difference.

I think last time I mentioned that I hadn't got a white box. I had a polythene biohazard bag in which the ice pack and the 4 samples were put inside, then that and the forms went in the box. My box already had a return label on it so I just needed to use the sealing sticker and hand it over the counter, assistant didn't ask what it was. In fact, I don't think there was anything on the box to suggest what might be inside.

I sent it Special Delivery and checked on Track and Trace and it was delivered about 11.30am the next day.

There was a lot to fill on on that form, all those symptoms that you had to score! I found that quite difficult because some can be attributed to something else. Oh well, we'll see what comes back!

[moniacho in reply to SeasideSusie]

Wierd, I did not receive any form to fill in my symptoms... only a form to fill in my personal details like address and DOB and a Test Requisition Form to fill in colletion times and for some reason also practicioners name and signature! I will have to email them about that.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to moniacho]

How strange, lots of things seem to be different!

The other form listed symptoms and you had to score between 0 - 4. There was also a section to list hormones you are taking and another one for amino acids. I wish I'd taken a copy now!

[moniacho in reply to SeasideSusie]

Nope, definetely I didnt get one of these. I just emailed them so hopefully all will be clear in a while.

Did you have to fill in a test requisition form on which one of the REQUIRED information was the practitioner's name and signature? I can put Thyroid UK as my practitioner's name but obviously wont be able to get a signature...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to moniacho]

Yes, there was a requisition form, there was something at the very top about practioner, it was already printed with Regenerus and something else. I left the practioner section and completed the rest. I got the impression (not sure if I am correct) that Regenerus sends the samples on to another lab and Regenerus itself is the 'practioner'. Genova test goes to the US (or did when I did it) so I wouldn't be surprised if Regenerus does too.

[moniacho in reply to SeasideSusie]

OK, thank you. I dont know why filling few forms and posting a package seems so overwhelming to me...

[humanbean in reply to moniacho]

moniacho SeasideSusie

Perhaps you used different companies?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to humanbean]

I don't think so HB. Moniacho did a thread a week or so ago about using Genova, I mentioned that Regenerus also did DHEA along with Cortisol (same as Genova) and it seems as though she was going to use Regenerus as sample delivery was easier, apparently Genova now require you to use a courier (which was a choice before, not the only option).

[humanbean in reply to SeasideSusie]

I wonder why the info you have to supply is so different. Weird!

[moniacho in reply to humanbean]

Lol, that would be funny No,I did use Regenerus as SeasideSusie suggested. Thats why Im wondering why I didnt get the same forms to fill.