Advanced Neurotransmitter & Diurnal Hormone Test | 42 Markers

Test ID: U-342 | Sample Type: Dried Urine (4 timed collections) | Technology: Advanced LCMS analysis with specialist laboratory interpretation included | Laboratory: ZRT Laboratory (CLIA-certified) | Test Result: in 3-5 working days | Suitable For: Adults and Children | Collect Sample At Home: No Clinic Visit Required

Understand the Connection Between Neurotransmitters, Stress and Sleep

The Advanced Neurotransmitter & Diurnal Hormone Test (U-342) is a comprehensive at-home dried urine test that measures neurotransmitters and their related metabolites alongside your daily patterns of free cortisol, free cortisone, and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin — the main urinary metabolite of melatonin.

Rather than looking at one marker or one moment in the day, this profile examines important pathways involving serotonin, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine, epinephrine, histamine, and the kynurenine pathway. Four timed hormone measurements also show how cortisol, cortisone, and melatonin output changes from morning to night.

The result is a broader view of the biochemical patterns that may be relevant to mood, stress response, energy, concentration, and sleep. Your personalised laboratory report can help you and your healthcare professional decide whether further assessment or targeted support may be appropriate.

Important: Urinary neurotransmitter testing measures neurotransmitters, precursors, and metabolites excreted in urine. It does not directly measure neurotransmitter activity in the brain and cannot, on its own, diagnose a mental health, neurological, sleep, or hormonal condition.

Could This Test Be Relevant to Your Symptoms?

You may wish to discuss this test with a qualified healthcare professional if you experience persistent or unexplained symptoms such as:

• Low mood, irritability, or frequent mood changes
• Feeling anxious, tense, overwhelmed, or “wired”
• Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking refreshed
• Daytime tiredness or fluctuating energy
• Poor concentration, mental fog, or forgetfulness
• Low motivation or reduced enjoyment
• Difficulty coping with stress
• Restlessness or feeling unable to switch off
• Changes in appetite or cravings
• Low libido
• Premenstrual mood changes

What Does the Test Measure? (42 Markers)

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 with a suggestion.

Why Combine Neurotransmitters With Cortisol and Melatonin?

Mood, energy, stress response, and sleep are influenced by interconnected systems. A neurotransmitter-only test provides information about neurotransmitter pathways, but it does not show the daily rhythm of cortisol or melatonin output. By combining these measurements, U-342 offers a more complete neuroendocrine overview:

• Cortisol supports the body’s response to daily demands and normally follows a day-night rhythm
• Cortisone provides additional context on glucocorticoid metabolism
• 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin reflects melatonin production and helps show the body’s sleep-wake pattern
• Neurotransmitters, precursors and metabolites provide information about systemic production, metabolism and excretion across several biochemical pathways

This combined information may be particularly useful when symptoms overlap — for example, poor sleep accompanied by fatigue, stress sensitivity, low mood, or reduced concentration.

Who Is This Test For?

This test is suitable for adults seeking additional biochemical information about symptoms involving mood, stress, energy, concentration, and sleep. Use for a child should be discussed with the child’s healthcare professional.

How It Works

1. Order your kit — delivered directly to your door
2. Collect four timed dried urine samples on the collection day using the supplied filter cards at specified times
3. Allow the cards to dry, then return them to the laboratory using the provided instructions
4. Receive your results by email within 3–5 working days of the lab receiving your samples

Preparing for Your Test

Food, drink, nicotine, medicines, and supplements may affect urinary results. Follow the instructions supplied with your kit. The laboratory guidance may require you to avoid alcohol, nicotine, and certain foods (including bananas, pineapple, and walnuts) for a specified period before collection. Do not stop prescribed medication or change treatment unless your prescribing clinician tells you to do so. Record all medicines and supplements on your requisition form.

This test assumes normal kidney function. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, under 18, have kidney disease, or are receiving treatment for a diagnosed condition, speak to a healthcare professional before ordering.

What You Receive With Your Results

• All 42 markers displayed in numerical and graphical form
• Diurnal cortisol, cortisone, and melatonin curves
• Neurotransmitter pathway analysis including metabolites and precursors
• Specialist laboratory interpretation and personalised comments
• 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. ZRT pioneered dried urine collection methods for multiple daily samples, making at-home neuroendocrine testing practical and accurate.

Hormone Lab UK (Testfield UK Ltd) is the official UK test provider for ZRT Laboratory.

Important Information

• Laboratory fee included — no hidden costs
• Customers are responsible for return shipping to the laboratory
• Test kit valid for 12 months from purchase date

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a neurotransmitter test?
This test measures selected neurotransmitters, their precursors, and their metabolites excreted in dried urine. The results provide information about systemic biochemical pathways and may support a broader assessment of symptoms involving mood, stress, energy, focus, or sleep.

Does a neurotransmitter test measure levels in the brain?
No. Urinary neurotransmitter levels are not a direct measurement of neurotransmitter activity in the brain. Results should be interpreted as one part of a wider clinical picture.

Can this test diagnose anxiety, depression, ADHD, or another condition?
No. The U-342 test cannot diagnose anxiety, depression, ADHD, insomnia, or any other medical or psychiatric condition. Diagnosis requires an appropriate assessment by a qualified professional.

Why are samples collected at different times of day?
Cortisol, cortisone, melatonin, and some neurotransmitter outputs vary across the day. Timed samples provide information about daily patterns and reduce reliance on a single time-point snapshot.

What is 6-sulfatoxymelatonin?
6-Sulfatoxymelatonin (MT6s) is the main metabolite of melatonin found in urine. Measuring it at several points helps assess the pattern of melatonin production associated with the sleep-wake cycle.

What is the difference between U-342 and U-343?
U-342 includes 26 neurotransmitters + diurnal cortisol, cortisone, and melatonin (42 markers total). U-343 adds diurnal norepinephrine and epinephrine at 5 time points (50 markers total), making it more comprehensive for stress response and adrenal assessment.

Does the price include the laboratory fee?
Yes. The full laboratory analysis fee is included. Return postage to the laboratory is not included.

How long is the kit valid for?
The kit must be used within 12 months of the purchase date.