Test ID: SB-641 | Sample Type: Dried Blood Spot + Saliva | Technology: LC-MS/MS | Results Time: 3-5 Working Days After Laboratory Receives Sample | Laboratory: ZRT Laboratory - CLIA Certified | Hormone Specialist Doctor Interpretation: Included | Suitable For: Adults and Children | Collect Sample At Home: No Clinic Visit Required
What Does This Test Measure?
Saliva - 4-Point Cortisol Profile: Morning, Noon, Evening, and Night Cortisol.
Blood Spot - CardioMetabolic Panel: Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, hsCRP.
10 markers total - an integrated assessment of the stress-metabolism axis and cardiovascular health for women in a single at-home kit.
Related Symptoms
Persistent fatigue, unexplained abdominal weight gain, sugar cravings, energy crashes, insomnia, night sweats, chronic stress, burnout, elevated cholesterol or triglycerides, blood sugar irregularities, anxiety, brain fog, PCOS, perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms, or a history of gestational diabetes.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Persistent fatigue or exhaustion that does not improve with rest
- Unexplained weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or afternoon slumps
- Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood sugar on previous testing
- Insomnia, night sweats, or unrefreshing sleep
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Anxiety or brain fog
- PCOS or symptoms associated with insulin resistance
- Perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms including night sweats and weight gain
- History of gestational diabetes or pre-diabetes
- Women wanting a targeted cortisol and cardiometabolic assessment without a full sex hormone or thyroid panel
- Family history of heart disease, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Women
- Before menopause, oestrogen protects HDL cholesterol and suppresses vascular inflammation - after menopause, LDL rises, HDL falls, triglycerides increase, and hsCRP elevates, raising cardiovascular disease risk to match or exceed that of men
- Cortisol dysregulation accelerates cardiometabolic deterioration at every hormonal transition - driving visceral fat, insulin resistance, and elevated triglycerides and hsCRP simultaneously
- Women are less likely to be tested or treated for cardiometabolic risk than men, despite equivalent or greater risk after menopause
- Fasting insulin is the earliest detectable marker of insulin resistance - elevated years before HbA1c or fasting glucose becomes abnormal, and directly driven by cortisol excess, low progesterone, PCOS, and oestrogen decline
- The 4-point cortisol profile identifies which phase of the day is driving cardiometabolic deterioration - enabling targeted intervention that a single cortisol measurement cannot provide
Not Sure Which Test Is Right for You?
Email us at info@hormonelab.co.uk with your gender, age, symptoms, medications, and any current treatments. We will forward your enquiry to our doctors and respond within 24 hours.
How It Works
- Order your kit - delivered directly to your door
- Collect saliva at four time points across the day (morning before 9am, noon, evening, night) and blood spot via finger-prick; cycle timing guidance is included
- Post your samples to ZRT Laboratory using the return instructions provided
- Receive your full report by email within 3-5 working days
What You Receive
- All 10 marker results with female-specific reference ranges
- Visual charts for your cortisol daily curve and cardiometabolic panel
- Written interpretation by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Personalised next-step recommendations
- Laboratory fee included - no hidden charges
Why We Use ZRT Laboratory
All testing is performed by ZRT Laboratory - a globally recognised, CLIA-certified diagnostic laboratory founded in 1998 by Dr. David Zava, PhD. ZRT has performed over 11 million tests and is trusted by healthcare professionals in 96+ countries.
- Pioneers of at-home dried blood spot (DBS) and saliva hormone testing
- Advanced LC-MS/MS technology for clinical-grade accuracy
- Qualified for the CDC Hormone Standardization (HoSt) Program
- Personalised reference ranges based on age and sex
Through our partnership with ZRT Laboratory, Hormone Lab UK delivers internationally recognised, research-backed hormone testing to people across the UK and Europe - from the comfort of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why test cortisol and cardiometabolic markers together in women?
Cortisol is a primary driver of insulin resistance, visceral fat, elevated triglycerides, reduced HDL, and systemic inflammation in women - effects that worsen at every hormonal life stage. Assessing both together reveals the root cause of metabolic symptoms that treating markers in isolation misses.
When should I collect my samples during my cycle?
This test can be taken at any point in your cycle. Guidance on optimal timing is included in the kit. Collecting during a representative period of your typical stress and lifestyle pattern gives the most clinically useful results.
Can I use this test if I am on HRT or the contraceptive pill?
Yes. HRT and hormonal contraception affect lipid profiles and blood sugar regulation, which is precisely why monitoring these markers alongside cortisol provides a more complete picture of your metabolic health.
What is fasting insulin and why does it matter?
Fasting insulin is the earliest detectable marker of insulin resistance - elevated years before HbA1c or fasting glucose becomes abnormal. In women it is directly driven by cortisol excess, low progesterone, PCOS, and the oestrogen decline of perimenopause.
Does the price include the laboratory fee?
Yes. The full laboratory analysis fee is included. There are no additional charges. You are only responsible for posting your samples to the laboratory.
How long is the kit valid for?
The kit must be used within 12 months of the purchase date.
