Saliva Cortisol Test

[Princesspea]

I was going to order the above from Genova but have since heard there may be dubiety over the accuracy of their results. Is the Blue Horizon one any better? Any suggestions/input much appreciated.

Gail

[PinkNinja]

Hi Gail

Where did you hear about a problem with the accuracy of the Genova test? It is important that we know as it is listed on the Thyroid UK website.

Thanks

Carolyn x

[Princesspea in reply to PinkNinja]

Carolyn, I will PM u ASAP.

Gail

[PinkNinja in reply to Princesspea]

Thanks Gail

It's just good for us to know as that test is mentioned on the Thyroid UK main website. I'm sure Thyroid UK want to make sure any tests they mention are accurate.

No hurry for the info. I'm taking the kids out for the afternoon before they drive me completely insane!

Carolyn x

[Kezzerb]

Hi Gail I am also very interested in knowing where you have read that they are dubious. I have just had my results back from Genova and they show up as my adrenals and cortisol are very low.

The test is highly recommended.

[roslin]

hi I also had them back recently. I had low morning cortisol and low DHEA. Could it be wrong. It is expensive enough.

Roslinxx

[sporty333]

And I've just sent my AST off ! Lol I hope they're ok!!!

[PinkNinja]

Saliva cortisol tests in general are very accurate. They are used in research for measuring cortisol response and there has even been research into them showing that they are very accurate.

I have never heard of Genova tests being inaccurate, but I'm not saying that I know how accurate they are for definite.

Hopefully Princesspea will get back to us with the source of this claim so we know whether there is a problem or not. It may be perfectly true or it may not, but we can't possibly tell without knowing the source of the claim.

I think it is important to know one way or the other, so if anyone has any information about whether the Genova test is accurate or not, could you please let us know.

Thanks

Carolyn x

[Clarebear]

I haven't heard this before, fairly sure my Genova results were accurate.

[Princesspea]

Oops, opened a can of worms, sorry everyone. I will PM the details to Carolyn as soon as I can, just at work at the moment so might be a slight delay.

Gail

[nobodysdriving]

yes Princesspea you have opened a can of worms HAHAHAHA undoubtedly with no intention I know

now all we will have to do is post here some official information which proves this right or wrong

if there is no proof then we will all proceed as we have always had: genova saliva test 'is' reliable

[nobodysdriving]

IN the meantime I have emailed Genova Diagnostics asking them to send me references which support the reliability of their salivary cortisol test

[Hidden]

thyroiduk.healthunlocked.co...

[PinkNinja in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sarah

One of the other Admins spoke to Paul some while after he posted that blog and he has completely changed his opinion of saliva cortisol tests since then. He now recommends then, particularly before starting his protocol for adrenal recovery - the circadian T3 method. This Paul is the Paul Robinson who wrote "Recovering with T3"

Carolyn x

[Princesspea]

Ok really sorry I think I have got mixed up! After a discussion about the saliva test and the above post (which I hadn't read at the time), Genova was mentioned and I have assumed it was dubiety over the Genova test. Having read the above post I now realise it I'd opinion on the validity of all saliva tests but nothing that had been proven as such.

Huge apologies and I only asked this question for personal reasons as I am about to order private tests and just wanted to make its I was getting the right thing.

Sorry

Gail

[PinkNinja in reply to Princesspea]

No need to apologise. It is always a good idea to check these things out after all, they are not cheap!

GPs often do not agree with these tests. They seem to believe that they are inaccurate but I don't believe the NHS offers such tests. It is a shame because it turns out they are cheaper than the serum tests and could save the NHS money in the long run.

If you need to convince your GP about the validity of these tests, let us know as there are many papers out there into the accuracy of such tests

I hope it goes well for you

Carolyn x

[Princesspea in reply to PinkNinja]

My GP doesn't believe anything to do with any of this so I have given up fighting him while I try to get better. Currently seeing Dr S.

Thank u.

Gail

[PinkNinja in reply to Princesspea]

I'm glad you're seeing someone who knows what he is doing. I wish I could see Dr S. I'm sure he'd have me sorted out in no time

Dr S may not think that a saliva cortisol test is necessary as, once your thyroid is sorted out, your adrenals should start recovering and that is the way he treats the condition. Often being on T3-only allows the adrenals to recover without the need for other interventions.

I'm sure Dr S will be able to advise whether you need the test or not.

It is very useful for the rest of us who are having to deal with this on our own though. It gives us a starting point anyway.

Wishing you all the best

Carolyn x

[Princesspea in reply to PinkNinja]

No problem Carolyn, I will certainly ask him and let u know his reply. I'm on Levo and went up to 200mcg buts it's not working for me and at that dose I started swelling up which Dr S said would be a sign of being toxic. So iv dropped back down to 175 and he had agreed I cld try T3 or NDT so in preparation or seeing him in May I had read that before starting T3 u were best to make sure adrenals, B12, vit D etc were all spot on or it probably wouldn't be successful hence I was going to get the tests done, is that not the case?

Gail

[PinkNinja in reply to Princesspea]

If you are going to take T3 only, it should work but you may find it a bit tricky to increase once you get to higher doses but you may also be fine. Taking T3 helps your adrenals recover. Taking T3-only also removes additional stress caused by too much levo.

If you take NDT you may find you have problems increasing your dose if you have low cortisol because you might still have trouble converting the T4 in it.

I would say getting your iron, ferritin, B12 are important. Your vitamin D is important but I don't think that it will prevent you increasing your dose of T3 or NDT. It will just give you symptoms in it's own right (I may be wrong here).

If you can afford to get the saliva cortisol test, it might be worth it. It will also give you a baseline. But adrenal insufficiency shouldn't prevent you being able to take T3. The T3 will probably even help.

Paul Robinson, who wrote the book "Recovering with T3", recovered his adrenals by taking T3 only. The theory is that if you take some T3 1.5 hours (or more for some people) before you would normally wake up, it gives your adrenals enough T3 to produce cortisol. In turn, this allows your adrenals to recover.

One thing that you might find on starting T3 is that you get very tired. This can happen because your adrenals are fatigued and are suddenly working again. I suppose it's a bit like when you have a break from exercising and you go back to it only to find it tires you out to start with. This tiredness should improve with time, just like when you get used to the exercise again (this is how I understand it anyway).

It really is a minefield trying to get the right treatment. Dr S seems to know what he is doing so I'm sure he will be able to recommend the best treatment for you.

Carolyn x

[Princesspea in reply to PinkNinja]

Carolyn

Many, many thanks for your knowledge and advice, I really do appreciate it.

Gail

[nobodysdriving]

I have emailed Genova and their reply is here for everyone to see:

Dear -----

Thank you for your email.

I can assure you that our salivary cortisol tests are accurate and valid. I have attached abstracts from published papers which validate salivary cortisol testing. There are many more published papers on Pubmed.

In addition Genova Diagnostics is a CPA, CQC registered laboratory and follows stringent guidelines and assessments to ensure the highest quality and accurate testing. Here is the link to our website which explains more gdx.net/uk/about .

I hope you will find this information sufficient. If you need any further information please let me know.

Kind regards

Andrea

Andrea Lavey DipION mBANT NTCC

Practitioner Support

Genova Diagnostics Europe

0208 336 7760

gdx.uk.net |metametrix.com

[nobodysdriving in reply to nobodysdriving]

here is the articles Genova sent me:

dropbox.com/s/jzvrhka2ye6l9...

[Princesspea in reply to nobodysdriving]

Thank u for this.

Gail