Quick Facts
- Sample: Saliva
- Fasting: No fasting required
- Turn-around: 5–7 business days after lab receipt. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Gold-standard precision — LC-MS/MS technology accurately measures low hormone levels, even in men and therapy users
- No needles, no lab visit — collect your saliva sample at home on your schedule
- Personalized reference ranges — results adjust for your age, hormone use, and menstrual status
- Fast, actionable insights — receive a detailed report within days to guide your next steps
- Support informed decisions — share results with your clinician to optimize therapy and lifestyle changes
Who Is This Test For?
- Women experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, or weight gain
- Men concerned about low testosterone, fatigue, decreased libido, or andropause
- Anyone on hormone replacement therapy who wants objective monitoring of treatment effectiveness
- Individuals with chronic stress, sleep issues, or suspected adrenal dysfunction
- Health-conscious adults seeking to optimize hormone balance for energy, mood, and metabolic health
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Collect your morning saliva sample at home using the easy-to-follow kit instructions and video guide
- Mail your sample to the ZRT Laboratory using the prepaid packaging provided
- Review your results online within days, then discuss the detailed report with your clinician
FAQ
What hormones does this test measure? This panel quantifies key steroid hormones including estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol using highly specific LC-MS/MS technology.
Do I need to stop my hormone therapy before testing? No—continue your prescribed therapy as directed; reference ranges adjust for hormone supplementation to provide accurate context.
When is the best time to collect my sample? Collect between waking and 9 a.m. when hormone production peaks; avoid eating, drinking (except water), or brushing teeth 30 minutes before.
How accurate is saliva testing compared to blood tests? LC-MS/MS saliva testing shows good agreement with serum for many hormones and excels at measuring low levels in men and aromatase-inhibitor users (ZRT Laboratory).
Can I share results with my doctor? Yes—your comprehensive interpretive report can be shared with any licensed clinician to inform treatment decisions and monitoring.
How soon will I receive my results? Results are typically available within several business days of the laboratory receiving your sample.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
This kit uses liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to measure a panel of steroid hormones in saliva, helping identify imbalances linked to fatigue, mood changes, sleep problems, weight gain, hot flashes, or low libido. Unlike standard immunoassays, LC-MS/MS provides superior analytical specificity and sensitivity, accurately quantifying very low hormone concentrations—particularly important for men, children, and patients on hormone-blocking therapies (ZRT Laboratory).
The first-morning saliva sample reflects peak daily hormone production, making it convenient and clinically relevant. Results inform discussions with your clinician about hormone therapy, lifestyle modifications, and overall reproductive and adrenal health.
Who would benefit from this test?
This test is valuable for adults experiencing symptoms suggesting hormone imbalance, including women navigating perimenopause or menopause (affecting approximately 1.3 million U.S. women annually, with up to 75% experiencing hot flashes), men with suspected hypogonadism (estimated to affect 6–12% of males, rising with age), and individuals with chronic stress or adrenal concerns (NAMS 2022).
Those already on hormone replacement therapy benefit from objective monitoring to ensure treatment safety and effectiveness. The Endocrine Society notes that appropriate testing and treatment of hypogonadism can significantly improve quality of life, sexual function, bone density, and body composition, potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs (Endocrine Society 2020).
When should I order this test?
Order this test when persistent symptoms suggest hormone imbalance, before starting or adjusting hormone therapy, or periodically to monitor treatment response. Many clinicians recommend baseline testing when symptoms emerge, then follow-up testing after therapy changes or at regular intervals (typically every 6–12 months for stable patients).
For women, timing considerations include testing during specific cycle phases if still menstruating, or anytime if postmenopausal. The test is particularly useful when symptoms don't clearly point to a single cause, allowing comprehensive hormone assessment in one convenient panel.
How do I interpret the results?
Your report compares each hormone value to reference ranges adjusted for age, menstrual status, and reported hormone use, categorizing levels as low, optimal, or high. Results should be reviewed with a licensed clinician who integrates your symptoms, medical history, and current clinical guidelines before recommending treatment changes.
- Low: Hormone level below the expected range for your profile; discuss symptoms, lifestyle factors, and potential therapy with your clinician
- Optimal: Hormone level within a healthy reference range; continue current management, monitor symptoms, and retest as recommended
- High: Hormone level above the expected range for your profile; review therapy dosing, application timing, and safety considerations with your clinician
Abnormal results do not diagnose a specific condition by themselves—they must be integrated with clinical context, physical examination, and complementary testing such as thyroid function or metabolic panels.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
Collect your saliva sample in the early morning, typically between waking and 9 a.m., when many hormones peak. Continue your prescribed topical or oral hormone therapy the day before testing, ensuring any nighttime dose is taken at least 12 hours before morning collection.
Avoid eating, drinking anything except water, brushing your teeth, or smoking for at least 30 minutes before sample collection. Complete all kit forms accurately, label your collection device with name, date, and time, then fill the tube to the indicated line following the provided instructions. Mail your sample using the prepaid packaging as soon as possible, ideally the same day.
How often should I get tested?
Testing frequency depends on your clinical situation, treatment status, and symptom changes. Work with your clinician to establish a personalized monitoring schedule.
- Baseline (new symptoms): Test once before starting therapy or making changes
- Starting or adjusting hormone therapy: Retest 3–6 months after the change to assess response
- Stable on therapy: Test every 6–12 months for ongoing monitoring
- Symptom changes: Test when new or worsening symptoms emerge
- Preventive health optimization: Test annually or as part of a routine wellness checkup
Why early detection matters
Identifying hormone imbalances early enables timely, individualized intervention that can significantly improve quality of life and reduce long-term health risks. About a quarter of menopausal women experience severe vasomotor symptoms, and untreated hormonal changes are associated with increased risks of osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, metabolic dysfunction, and mood disorders (NAMS 2022; Mayo Clinic 2023).
In men, untreated hypogonadism contributes to decreased bone density, unfavorable body composition, reduced muscle mass, and cardiometabolic complications. The Endocrine Society emphasizes that appropriate evaluation and treatment can enhance sexual function, bone health, and overall well-being while potentially reducing long-term healthcare costs (Endocrine Society 2020).
Balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, sleep hygiene, and stress-reduction strategies (such as mindfulness or cognitive-behavioral approaches) support healthy hormone regulation. Avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy body weight reduce cardiovascular risk during hormonal transitions, complementing any hormone-based interventions (American Heart Association; NAMS 2022).
Related tests you may consider
SB-644 | Saliva 4-Point Cortisol + Blood Spot- ZRT Test Kit — combines diurnal saliva cortisol testing with blood spot sex hormones (E2, E3, E1, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S), SHBG, and comprehensive thyroid markers (TSH, FT3, FT4, TPOab, TgAb, TT4 LC/MS) to provide an integrated assessment of adrenal rhythm, hormonal balance, and thyroid function.
Thyroid #3 Extreme Blood Test Panel — thyroid dysfunction can mimic or worsen symptoms of sex hormone imbalance, making paired testing essential for accurate differential diagnosis (ZRT Laboratory).
Cardio IQ® Advanced Lipid Panel Blood Test — sex hormone changes are associated with altered cholesterol and triglyceride levels, making lipid testing an important tool for assessing cardiovascular risk.
