Saliva Testing
About ZRT Laboratory
ZRT Laboratory is a CLIA-certified commercial and research laboratory founded in 1998 by breast cancer researcher David Zava, Ph.D. ZRT Laboratory has pioneered innovative testing methods for hormones, neurotransmitters, heavy metals and more, offering health care professionals convenient testing options in different body fluids including saliva, dried blood spot, dried urine, and serum.
Since it began, ZRT has maintained a singular focus: providing comprehensive and meaningful test results that assist health care providers, and their patients, in making informed treatment decisions.
ZRT is the recognized leader in at-home saliva and dried blood spot collection methods for hormone and wellness testing. We proudly hold the distinction of being the lab that developed dried urine testing for hormones.
While our range of test methodologies and technologies has multiplied over the years, our commitment to end-user simplicity hasn’t wavered.
With 20 years of experience and results from over 10 million tests, health care providers in all 50 states and 96 countries, and organizations worldwide including the CDC, the NIH and many renowned universities, trust ZRT’s unparalleled commitment to quality.
Attention:
New York, Maryland and California residents.
Due to special restrictions, a doctors prescription is required by ZRT Labs in order to process the sample. We are not authorized to sell this test to residents in these states. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Disclaimer:
The information presented on this website is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice or recommendations from your healthcare provider. For guidance on the relevance of any opinion or suggestion to your specific symptoms or medical condition, we strongly advise consulting a qualified healthcare professional
What is Saliva Testing?
Saliva testing is a non-invasive collection method where patients collect their saliva in plastic tubes in order to measure hormones like cortisol, estrogens, progesterone, and androgens. This non-invasive saliva collection is ideal for patients because it allows them to collect their sample in the privacy of their home.
Why Do We Test Hormones in Saliva?
Steroid hormones in the bloodstream are 95-99% bound to carrier proteins, and in this form are unavailable to target tissues. Saliva testing measures the amount of hormone available to target tissues – the bioavailable amount. For this reason, saliva testing better relates to specific symptoms of excess or deficiency, and is a good option for monitoring hormone therapy.
Some analytes cannot be tested using immunoassays, the methodology used for most of our saliva testing. For that reason, ZRT developed an LCMS Saliva Steroid Profile using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This profile tests a broad range of bioavailable hormones and hormone metabolites in one convenient saliva sample collection. LCMS testing allows for accurate reporting of estrogens down to extremely low levels, such as those seen in men, children, and people using aromatase inhibitors, and includes a test for ethinyl estradiol, 3 hormone blockers, and melatonin.
ZRT is one of the first labs to measure hormones in saliva, and helped establish the method that made saliva hormone testing commercially viable for health care providers and patients around the globe.
Saliva Test Kit Includes:
Saliva Profile I – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx1
Saliva Profile II – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx2
Saliva Profile III – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx4
Hormone Trio – E2, Pg & T
Diurnal Cortisol – Cx4
Female / Male Saliva Profiles I, II & III
Three convenient saliva profiles are offered to assess sex and adrenal hormone levels. These profiles test waking levels of estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol, while Profile II includes a bedtime cortisol test and Profile III a full diurnal cortisol profile at four time points during the day (morning, noon, evening, night).
How to Collect Your Sample
At ZRT Laboratory, we are committed to making lab testing simple! The short videos below show how to collect a dried blood spot, saliva or dried urine sample for testing.
We also provide links to printer-friendly instructions at the bottom of this page.
If you have additional questions, you can also try reviewing our FAQs.
Easy sample collection:
Step
Step
Step
Please Note:
Due to New York State regulations, Trace Elements does not provide the hair analysis test to New York residents.
Privacy policy:
At APlus NutriPro, we prioritize your privacy. We want to assure you that your trust in us is well-placed, as we strictly adhere to a policy of not selling or sharing customer information with any other organizations.
Moreover, we are committed to providing you with a hassle-free experience. We do not engage in sending unsolicited mailings, whether physical or digital, to our valued customers. So when you place an order with us, you can be confident that you won't receive any unnecessary mail or emails from our end.
If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us at +1 (470) 820-2083. Your satisfaction is our first priority.
FAQ
How does saliva testing work?
ZRT's at home test kits include everything you need for collection and can be ordered online or by phone (some restrictions may apply). When your sample has been collected, return the filled tube(s) with the completed paperwork in the pre-addressed, pre-paid packaging and mailer bag provided with the kit. Once ZRT has received your sample, results will be returned to you and/or your health care provider in approximately 5 to 7 business days.
What saliva tests does ZRT offer?
We test the following seven hormones in saliva:
- Estradiol (E2)
- Estrone (E1)
- Estriol (E3)
- Progesterone (Pg)
- Testosterone (T)
- DHEA-S
- Cortisol (C)
How accurate is saliva testing compared to blood and urine testing?
Saliva testing has been used in scientific testing for decades and has been shown to be highly accurate. It is the most reliable way to measure free, bioavailable hormone activity — those hormones actually doing their job at the cell level. Standard blood and urine tests do not measure bioavailable hormone levels. Numerous scientific studies have shown a strong correlation between the levels of steroid hormones in the blood stream and the bio-available levels of steroid hormones in saliva. Peter T. Ellison, Ph.D. of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, has used this method of hormone testing in cross-cultural comparisons of hormone levels among women living in industrialized vs. non-industrialized countries. (Human Reproduction vol.8 no.12 pp.2248-2258, 1993; Human Reproduction Vol.17, No.12 pp. 3251–3253, 2002.) His research in the field is the subject of his 2001 publication, On Fertile Ground: A Natural History of Human Reproduction (Harvard University Press). In addition, saliva hormone testing more accurately reflects tissue uptake and response of hormones delivered through the skin in creams, gels, or patches than blood or urine tests.
Which saliva tests will give me a comprehensive picture of my hormone levels?
There are many factors to take into consideration, such as: Diet - Improper diet through high intake of refined and processed foods, alcohol and fad diets can all lead to a chemical imbalance. Even the nutrient content of a "healthy" diet can be inadequate, depending upon the soil in which the food was grown or the method in which it was prepared. Stress - Physical or emotional stress can deplete the body of many nutrients while also reducing the capability to absorb and utilize many nutrients. Medications - Both prescription and over-the-counter medications can deplete the body stores of nutrient minerals and/or increase the levels of toxic metals. These medications include diuretics, antacids, aspirin and oral contraceptives. Pollution - From adolescence through adulthood the average person is continually exposed to a variety of toxic metal sources such as cigarette smoke (cadmium), hair dyes (lead), hydrogenated oils (nickel), anti-perspirants (aluminum), dental amalgams (mercury and cadmium), copper and aluminum cookware and lead-based cosmetics. These are just a few of the hundreds of sources which can contribute to nutrient imbalances and adverse metabolic effects. Nutritional Supplements - Taking incorrect supplements or improper amounts of supplements can produce many vitamin and mineral excesses and/or deficiencies, contributing to an overall biochemical imbalance. Inherited Patterns - A predisposition toward certain mineral imbalances, deficiencies and excesses can be inherited from parents.
Should I test estriol and/or estrone?
Since estradiol is the more predominant and potent of the estrogens, this is the most commonly measured estrogen in testing. Estrone and estriol are typically only tested for those who are supplementing with them.