Test ID: SB-653 | Sample Type: Saliva + Dried Blood Spot | 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 — Sex Hormones (LC-MS/MS): Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), Estrone (E1), Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEAS.
Saliva — 4-Point Cortisol Profile: Morning, Noon, Evening, and Night Cortisol.
Blood Spot — Full Thyroid Panel: TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, TPO Antibodies, Thyroglobulin Antibodies.
Blood Spot — CardioMetabolic Panel: Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, hsCRP.
Blood Spot — Vitamin D: 25-OH Vitamin D2, 25-OH Vitamin D3.
26 markers total — the most comprehensive weight-focused at-home female health profile available in the UK, covering sex hormone balance, the full daily cortisol rhythm, autoimmune thyroid function, cardiometabolic risk, and Vitamin D status in a single kit.
Related Symptoms
Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight despite diet and exercise, stubborn abdominal fat, slow metabolism, persistent fatigue, low energy, sugar cravings, energy crashes, poor sleep, low mood, low motivation, chronic stress, burnout, hair thinning, feeling cold, or hormonal or thyroid-related symptoms that standard blood panels have not explained.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight despite consistent diet and exercise effort
- Stubborn abdominal or visceral fat that does not respond to lifestyle changes
- Slow metabolism or persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or afternoon slumps
- Poor sleep quality, night waking, or unrefreshing sleep
- Low mood, low motivation, or reduced drive
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Hair thinning, feeling cold, or dry skin alongside weight gain
- Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood sugar on previous testing
- PMS, heavy or irregular periods, or perimenopausal symptoms
- Diagnosed or suspected PCOS, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or estrogen dominance
- Women wanting to understand the hormonal root causes of metabolic and weight challenges
- Family history of thyroid disease, diabetes, heart disease, or metabolic syndrome
- Women over 35 experiencing unexplained changes in body composition or energy
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Women
- Weight gain in women is rarely caused by a single hormone — cortisol drives visceral fat and insulin resistance simultaneously; estrogen decline removes insulin-sensitising and metabolic protection; thyroid insufficiency slows metabolism independently of caloric intake; low Vitamin D worsens insulin resistance, elevates hsCRP, and impairs thyroid conversion; each system reinforces the others and none are assessed together by standard GP panels
- Cortisol is the primary hormonal driver of abdominal fat in women — the 4-point profile identifies which phase of the day is driving visceral fat storage, insulin resistance, progesterone suppression, and cortisol-driven estrogen dominance
- Estrogen decline amplifies every other metabolic risk factor — as Estradiol (E2) falls in perimenopause, insulin sensitivity drops, HDL falls, triglycerides rise, and hsCRP elevates simultaneously, creating a convergent cardiometabolic risk profile that requires hormonal assessment to diagnose and address
- Thyroid insufficiency slows metabolism and is missed by TSH alone — cortisol-driven T3 suppression and Hashimoto’s autoimmunity both produce weight gain and metabolic slowdown with a normal TSH; FT3, FT4, TT4, and both antibodies are required
- Vitamin D deficiency independently worsens insulin resistance, elevates hsCRP, and impairs thyroid T4-to-T3 conversion — deficiency is prevalent in the UK and rarely tested alongside the hormonal markers that explain its metabolic impact on weight
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 (morning before 9am, noon, evening, night) and blood spot via finger-prick. Guidance on optimal cycle timing 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 26 marker results with female-specific reference ranges
- Visual cortisol rhythm chart showing your full four-point daily curve
- Visual charts for all sex hormones, the full thyroid panel, all six cardiometabolic markers, and Vitamin D status
- Integrated clinical interpretation of how cortisol, estrogen, thyroid function, insulin resistance, and Vitamin D interact as a single female weight-metabolic system
- Estrogen-progesterone dominance ratio analysis
- Insulin resistance pattern assessment (fasting insulin + HbA1c)
- Cardiovascular risk profile in full female hormonal and thyroid context
- Personalised next-step recommendations for weight, metabolism, and hormonal health
- Integrated interpretation by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- 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 does this test include Vitamin D?
Vitamin D deficiency independently worsens insulin resistance, elevates hsCRP, and impairs thyroid T4-to-T3 conversion. It is one of the most prevalent deficiencies in the UK and directly compounds every hormonal and metabolic driver of weight gain in women — making it an essential component of a comprehensive weight management profile.
Why test all five systems together rather than individually?
Cortisol, estrogen, thyroid, insulin, and Vitamin D form a single integrated metabolic network. Each drives the others: cortisol suppresses estrogen and thyroid function; estrogen decline worsens insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk; thyroid insufficiency slows metabolism and raises cholesterol; insulin resistance drives visceral fat and hormonal imbalance. Testing all five together reveals the root-cause interaction pattern that single-system testing cannot identify.
Is this test suitable for women with PCOS or Hashimoto’s?
Yes. PCOS is fundamentally a condition of insulin resistance, androgen excess, and estrogen-progesterone imbalance, all directly assessed here alongside thyroid antibodies. Hashimoto’s is screened by TPO and Tg antibodies alongside the cortisol and insulin markers that drive autoimmune thyroid activity.
Can I use this test if I am on HRT, the contraceptive pill, or levothyroxine?
Yes. This test is particularly valuable for women on HRT, the pill, or thyroid medication who want to understand how their treatment is interacting with cortisol rhythm, insulin resistance, cardiometabolic markers, and Vitamin D status.
What is fasting insulin and why does it matter for weight management?
Fasting insulin is the earliest detectable marker of insulin resistance — elevated years before HbA1c becomes abnormal. In women, elevated insulin promotes visceral fat, drives hormonal imbalance, suppresses metabolic rate, and independently raises cardiovascular risk. It is the most actionable early metabolic marker in this profile.
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.
