Saliva Hormone Testing

Clinical Validity

Today, saliva is understood to be the Gold Standard for measuring unbound, active hormone levels in the human body. In addition to saliva, stool testing uses state-of-the-art methodologies and equipment to analyze microbes, parasites, pathogens and inflammation markers, which can help diagnose a wide range of physical symptoms.

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Precision and Reliability

Testing methodologies and reference ranges are regularly examined and refined to deliver the best possible results.

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Chronobiology

Because hormone levels fluctuate over time, non-invasive sample collection allows us to measure at specified time intervals to create a more accurate assessment of hormone levels throughout a day or month. A provider may take these results to compare different periods of a clients treatment or other physiological states – such as on hormone replacement therapy. Since clients collect their samples themselves, it is uniquely convenient to collect multiple samples without the hassle or pain of a visit to the lab for a blood draw.

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​Dynamic, Chronobiological Measurements

In order to accurately study how hormones affect a person, it is necessary to look at hormone levels dynamically. In other words, hormone fluctuations are just as important as their level at any given one point in time. The practice of including a time component to the evaluation of a patient is called chronobiology. There are many well known chronobiological processes: sleep/wake cycles, seasonal mood changes, a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle, etc.

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The hormones that influence many of the cycles in our lives can be viewed as markers to check if our body is in a healthy state from a standpoint of chronobiology. For example, multiple sample outpatient saliva testing allows a clinician to monitor the hormone regulation of a woman over her entire monthly cycle! This information can have profound diagnostic significance and can lead to therapeutic strategies which may be overlooked by one sample testing of her hormones.

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All major steroid hormones, and select peptide hormones, and antibodies can be readily detected and measured with reproducible results from saliva. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is the most prevalent laboratory technique utilized in measuring hormones, antigens, and antibodies within the saliva.

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With these things in mind, saliva analysis is an excellent alternative to blood serum testing, as it is clinically applicable, and scientifically accepted to study a persons chronobiology, while also being more economical.

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Stool Testing Approach

Many stool tests are simplistic – looking for a single element or small group of biomarkers. Gastrointestinal Health Panels are quite comprehensive and can provide detailed insights into microbial presence and balance, potential parasites, pathogens and inflammation markers. Results will identify or rule out many potential causes of patient symptoms.

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Other Sample Types

Urine – currently, urine is used to measure Pyrilinks-D in our Bone Health Panel.

Mucosal Swab – the mucosal swab is designated to identify Yeast, either as part of your Yeast Panel or in a Flex-Matrix Custom Panel.