This collection guide covers saliva tubes and dried urine cards used by different hormone-metabolite panels. The exact samples and schedule depend on your test code, so check your requisition and the Saliva + Dried Urine Collection Instructions before starting.
Plan around your panel
The guide provides different collection timings for saliva and urine. Men, children and non-menstruating women may collect on any day. If you menstruate, follow the guide’s cycle timing for the relevant hormone panel and avoid urine collection when blood could be present in the sample. The number of saliva collections varies by panel.
If you use hormones, record them on your requisition and read the hormone-user section. It contains panel-specific timing and contamination precautions. The PDF includes a separate caution for vaginal hormones before urine hormone-metabolite testing; check with your healthcare professional or laboratory before changing any prescribed treatment.
Prepare for saliva collection
Three days before collection, the guide advises avoiding anti-ageing or anti-wrinkle facial creams and biotin (vitamin B7) products. On the day before and day of saliva testing, it recommends avoiding bananas, pineapple, nuts and nut butters, alcohol, nicotine, protein powders and protein shakes. Before your first saliva sample and for at least two hours before later saliva collections, do not eat, drink anything other than water, or brush your teeth.
Begin the first saliva sample into the large 10 mL tube within 30 minutes of waking. Wash and dry your hands, rinse your mouth with water and wait five minutes before collecting. Use the timetable for your panel for any further samples, using the smaller 5 mL tubes if required. Let saliva pool before transferring it, fill each tube at least halfway (not counting bubbles), cap securely and label it with your name, date and collection time. Freeze saliva samples that will not be shipped within 24 hours.
Collect the dried urine cards
The guide lists four urine collection times: the first urination upon waking, a second collection about two hours later, just before dinner, and before bed. Follow the exact schedule for your panel and limit drinking to no more than 8 oz in the hour before each urine collection. The guide also gives specific directions for food, supplements and medicines before the first morning sample. Check with your healthcare professional before delaying any prescribed medicine.
At each collection, write your name, date and time on a separate card before collecting. Apply urine directly to the filter paper or collect it in a clean cup and dip the paper to the top black dash line. Hang or tape the card securely so the wet filter paper does not touch anything. Let it dry completely for at least six hours, then refold it and seal it in its bag. Do not leave dry cards outside their bags for more than 24 hours. The PDF notes that wet, unsealed or too-dilute urine samples, and samples over 30 days old, will not be processed.
If you miss a urine collection, the guide says to collect at the same time the following day and update the time on the card and requisition. Contact the laboratory if you are unsure how to restart.
Explore related collections and kits
Browse Multi Hormone Profile Tests or Neurotransmitters Tests. Related combined saliva-and-dried-urine options include the Elite Neurotransmitters & Saliva Hormone Test and Neurotransmitter & Saliva Hormone Test II. Their marker panels may differ from hormone-metabolite panels, so check each product page and its kit instructions for exact test details.
This article covers specimen collection only. It is not medical advice or an interpretation of test results. Follow your kit guide and contact the laboratory or a qualified healthcare professional if you are unsure about timing, medicines or collection.