Important Guidance:
For optimal and clinically relevant results, samples should be collected under normative conditions, ensuring consistency in collection procedures and tube handling. Patients should maintain their routine diet, medications, and supplements unless specifically instructed otherwise by their healthcare provider. This approach ensures an accurate assessment based on their usual physiological state. Do not consume food or drink for 2 hours before collections. Collect four urine and six saliva (Insomnia tube is optional) samples over a 24-hour period. If you miss a urine or saliva collection time, collect it at the same time the next day and submit all samples together the following day.
Test Interference:
Test interference occurs when a medication or supplement alters the sample or test reagents, potentially causing inaccurate results (e.g., false positive or false negative).
Biological Effects:
Without interfering with the test, some substances can influence your body’s biomarkers, affecting your results by increasing or decreasing the biomarker. However, biological effects do not interfere with test performance, accuracy, or validity. Results will be accurate as measured.
RECOMMENDED: Preparing for the Test to Avoid Test Interference
- Medications: Continue taking prescribed medications unless otherwise directed by your health care provider. Inform the lab if you're on any medications that may potentially cause interference.
- Hydration: Ensure adequate hydration by drinking 8 glasses of water per day for 2-3 days before the test. On the collection day, avoid food or drinks for 2 hours before each sample collection. Maintain normal hydration—avoid overhydrating to prevent dilution.
Hormone Usage
- The test is used to monitor HRT therapy. Continue hormone-related supplements unless you are specifically instructed by your provider.
- Hormone creams and gels can be used as usual.
- Patches, pellets, and injections-based HRT, collections can be done midway of the dosage.
- If you are instructed to stop HRT by your provider, please wait 72 hours before collecting the sample.
- Restrictions: Oral DHEA, Oral estrogen, Oral progesterone, and Oral pregnenolone 24-72 hours prior to collection could impact the results, and it is best to avoid consultation with your provider.
OPTIONAL: Preparing for the Test to Avoid Biological Effects
- Diet: Avoid phytoestrogen-rich foods (e.g., soy, flaxseeds, licorice) and dopamine influences (e.g., bananas, avocados, fava beans) for 48 hours before collection. Limit caffeine and alcohol for 24 hours before collection.
- Supplements: Avoid tyrosine, quercetin, or Mucuna for 48 hours before collection. Consult your health care provider before stopping any prescribed supplements.
- Environmental Factors: Avoid intense physical exercise and exposure to environmental pollutants (e.g., cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes) 24 hours before the test.
- Sample Collection: WHEN TO COLLECT
- Avoid collection: This test is not available for children under 15 years of age. Avoid collecting Urine if you have active bleeding or if you are menstruating.
- Fasting: Fast 8 hours prior to blood collection (only water is allowed).
- Collection Timing: Men and non-menstruating women may collect any day of the month. Postmenopausal women on hormone therapy: Collect midway between doses. Menstruating women with regular cycles: Collect on day 19, 20, or 21 of the menstrual cycle (Day 1 = first day of your period). Irregular cycles: Collect 5-7 days before the expected onset of menses.