This guide covers two sample types: saliva tubes and dried urine collection cards. The panel determines how many samples and which collection times you need. The PDF also notes that saliva and urine samples do not have to be collected on the same day. This article summarises the Saliva + Dried Urine Collection Instructions; confirm your test code and follow the full kit guide.
Plan your collection
Check the panel-specific timetable before you start. Men, children and non-menstruating women may collect on any day according to the guide. If you menstruate, avoid urine collection when blood could be present in your urine. Saliva hormone panels may have cycle-day timing, so use the instructions for your exact panel.
If you use hormones, record them on your requisition and review the guide’s separate hormone-user section. It includes timing and contamination precautions that depend on the type of hormone and the panel. Do not stop or change prescribed hormones without advice from your healthcare professional.
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, wait five minutes, then collect. Follow your panel’s timetable 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, and cap and label it with your name, date and collection time. Freeze saliva samples that will not be shipped within 24 hours.
Collect and dry the urine cards
The guide lists four urine collection times: the first urination upon waking, another collection about two hours later, just before dinner, and before bed. Follow the exact timetable supplied for your panel. Limit drinking to no more than 8 oz in the hour before each urine collection. The guide has 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, label a separate card with your name, date and time before collecting. Apply urine directly to the filter paper or collect it in a clean cup and dip the paper up to the top black dash line. Hang or tape the card somewhere secure so the wet 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.
If you miss a urine collection, the PDF 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 proceed.
Return your samples
Complete the requisition and any other paperwork, then pack the samples and documents in the kit box and use the return packaging and carrier supplied. The guide states that wet, unsealed or too-dilute urine samples, and samples more than 30 days old, will not be processed.
Explore the collection and kits
Browse the Neurotransmitters Tests collection, or see the Elite Neurotransmitters & Saliva Hormone Test and Neurotransmitter & Saliva Hormone Test II. Both product pages list dried urine and saliva as sample types. Check each kit’s full instructions for its panel-specific collection requirements.
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.