Test ID: SB-642 | Saliva 4-Point Cortisol + Blood Spot Thyroid & CardioMetabolic Panel
The Female CardioMetabolic & Thyroid Test Kit is the most comprehensive at-home multi-system hormone test available for women, measuring 13 key markers across thyroid function, stress hormone rhythm, blood sugar regulation, inflammation, and cardiovascular health. It combines a 4-point saliva cortisol profile with a full blood spot thyroid and cardiometabolic panel — delivering a clinically meaningful picture of the interconnected systems most responsible for energy, weight, mood, and long-term health in women.
In women, thyroid function, cortisol, blood sugar, and cardiovascular risk do not operate in isolation. They form a tightly interdependent network that is continuously modulated by oestrogen, progesterone, and the hormonal shifts of the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and menopause. When one system is dysregulated, the others typically follow. This test is designed to assess all of them together — providing the complete hormonal and metabolic picture that standard GP blood panels do not offer.
Test from home with confidence — no clinic visit required. Results within 3–5 working days.
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Women
Women face a unique constellation of metabolic and thyroid risks that are directly shaped by female hormonal biology:
- Thyroid disease is up to 10 times more common in women than men — and is frequently misattributed to stress, depression, or perimenopause; standard TSH-only testing misses early dysfunction, cortisol-driven T3 suppression, and autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s)
- Oestrogen fluctuations directly affect thyroid hormone binding — rising oestrogen (during the luteal phase, pregnancy, or HRT) increases thyroid-binding globulin, reducing free T3 and T4 availability and producing hypothyroid symptoms with a normal TSH
- Cortisol suppresses T3 conversion — chronic stress diverts T4 towards inactive reverse T3; this is one of the most common causes of fatigue, weight gain, and brain fog in women with “normal” thyroid blood tests
- Insulin resistance in women is hormonally driven — cortisol, low progesterone, and declining oestrogen all impair insulin sensitivity; PCOS is characterised by insulin resistance even in lean women, and perimenopause markedly increases metabolic risk
- Cardiovascular risk rises sharply after perimenopause — declining oestrogen raises LDL and triglycerides, reduces HDL, and promotes vascular inflammation (measured by hsCRP); women’s cardiovascular risk is systematically underestimated and undertreated
- Inflammation is the common root — elevated hsCRP connects thyroid autoimmunity, insulin resistance, cortisol dysregulation, and cardiovascular risk in a single underlying inflammatory process that this panel is uniquely positioned to reveal
What This Test Measures
Blood Spot — Full Thyroid Panel
- TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): The standard first-line thyroid screen — but in women, TSH alone misses early dysfunction, HRT-related changes in thyroid binding, and cortisol-driven T3 suppression. Essential context, not a complete picture.
- Free T3 (FT3): The active thyroid hormone that drives metabolism, energy, mood, and temperature regulation in women. Low FT3 with normal TSH is the most common missed thyroid pattern in women under chronic stress or hormonal transition.
- Free T4 (FT4): The thyroid’s primary output hormone. Low FT4 with normal TSH indicates early thyroid insufficiency or impaired conversion — often preceding overt hypothyroidism by years, particularly in perimenopausal women.
- Total T4 (TT4): Measures total circulating T4 including the bound fraction. Particularly relevant for women on HRT or the contraceptive pill, which increase thyroid-binding globulin and alter the ratio of free to bound T4.
- TPO Antibodies (Anti-TPO): The primary marker for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — the autoimmune condition responsible for the majority of hypothyroidism in women. Elevated TPO antibodies are frequently present years before TSH becomes abnormal.
- Thyroglobulin Antibodies (Anti-Tg): A second autoimmune marker essential for complete Hashimoto’s screening; some women have elevated Tg antibodies with normal TPO, making both necessary for accurate autoimmune thyroid assessment.
Blood Spot — CardioMetabolic Panel
- Fasting Insulin: The earliest detectable marker of insulin resistance — elevated years before HbA1c or fasting glucose becomes abnormal. Insulin resistance in women is directly driven by cortisol, low progesterone, and the hormonal changes of perimenopause and PCOS.
- HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin): Reflects average blood sugar over the preceding 8–12 weeks. A key marker for pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes risk — which increases significantly after menopause as oestrogen’s insulin-sensitising effects decline.
- HDL Cholesterol: The protective cholesterol fraction — directly supported by oestrogen; HDL typically falls after menopause, increasing cardiovascular risk in women who were previously well-protected.
- Triglycerides: Elevated triglycerides are strongly associated with insulin resistance, high cortisol, and oestrogen decline in women; a key cardiometabolic risk marker often elevated before LDL changes.
- Total Cholesterol: Provides the overall lipid context; rising total cholesterol in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women is a direct consequence of declining oestrogen.
- hsCRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein): The gold standard inflammatory marker. Elevated hsCRP in women is associated with thyroid autoimmunity, insulin resistance, oestrogen decline, and increased cardiovascular risk — and is one of the strongest predictors of future heart disease in women, often more so than LDL cholesterol.
Saliva — 4-Point Cortisol Profile
- Morning Cortisol: The Cortisol Awakening Response — critical for energy, thyroid hormone activation, and progesterone balance. A blunted response in women signals adrenal burnout; elevated response indicates high stress reactivity.
- Noon Cortisol: Chronically elevated noon cortisol in women drives blood sugar instability, impairs T3 conversion, and worsens insulin resistance — often worsening in the luteal phase of the cycle.
- Evening Cortisol: Should be declining significantly to allow progesterone, melatonin, and thyroid cellular uptake to proceed during sleep. Elevated evening cortisol disrupts hormonal restoration in women.
- Night Cortisol: Elevated night cortisol is a leading cause of insomnia, night sweats, and overnight blood sugar dysregulation in women — particularly during perimenopause and menopause.
Who Should Consider This Test?
This test is particularly relevant for women who experience:
- Persistent fatigue or exhaustion that does not improve with sleep or rest
- Unexplained weight gain or difficulty losing weight despite diet and exercise
- Brain fog, poor memory, or difficulty concentrating
- Low mood, anxiety, or depression
- Feeling cold all the time, or temperature sensitivity
- Dry skin, hair thinning or loss, or brittle nails
- Irregular, heavy, or absent periods
- Perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, and mood changes
- PCOS or known insulin resistance
- Insomnia, night waking, or unrefreshing sleep
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or afternoon dips
- Elevated cholesterol or triglycerides on previous testing
- Family history of thyroid disease, diabetes, or heart disease
- Currently on HRT or the contraceptive pill
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Wanting a comprehensive metabolic and hormonal baseline before or during perimenopause
Key Features
- 13-marker thyroid, cortisol, and cardiometabolic panel in a single at-home kit
- Blood spot collection — simple finger-prick, no clinic visit or venepuncture
- Saliva collection for cortisol — non-invasive, captures bioavailable (active) cortisol at four time points
- Results within 3–5 working days after lab receipt
- Expert analysis by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Clear graphical and numerical results with personalised commentary
- All-inclusive price — laboratory fees included, no hidden costs
- Valid for 12 months from purchase
How It Works
- Order the kit online — delivered directly to your door.
- Collect your blood spot sample via a simple finger-prick onto the collection card, and your saliva samples at four time points across the day, following the detailed instructions provided. Guidance on optimal cycle timing is included.
- Post your samples to the lab using the return instructions included in your kit.
- Receive your results within 3–5 working days, with specialist commentary and clear next-step guidance.
What Your Report Includes
- All 13 marker results with female-specific reference ranges
- Visual charts for your cortisol daily curve, thyroid panel, and cardiometabolic markers
- Clinical interpretation of how your thyroid, cortisol, and metabolic results interact — including oestrogen’s role in your results
- Specialist commentary by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Personalised next-step recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this test measure?
TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Total T4, TPO Antibodies, Thyroglobulin Antibodies, Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, hsCRP (blood spot) plus 4-point Cortisol (saliva) — 13 markers in total.
Why test thyroid, cortisol, and cardiometabolic markers together?
In women, these systems are tightly interconnected through oestrogen, progesterone, and insulin. Cortisol suppresses thyroid T3 conversion; insulin resistance worsens with cortisol elevation and oestrogen decline; cardiovascular risk rises as thyroid and metabolic function deteriorates. Testing all together reveals the full picture — and the root cause — in a single kit.
Can I use this test if I am on HRT, the contraceptive pill, or levothyroxine?
Yes. HRT and the pill affect thyroid hormone binding and lipid profiles, which is precisely why a comprehensive panel including FT3, FT4, and TT4 provides more useful information than TSH alone. Follow the timing guidance in your kit.
When should I collect my samples during my cycle?
Guidance on optimal cycle timing for both the blood spot and saliva samples is included in the kit.
How accurate is the test?
Blood spot samples are analysed using advanced immunoassay technology; saliva cortisol is measured using LC-MS/MS — the gold standard for bioavailable hormone measurement.
When will I get my results?
Within 3–5 working days after your samples reach the laboratory.
Are there hidden costs?
No. Laboratory analysis and specialist review are fully included. You are responsible for postage to the lab.
How long is the kit valid?
12 months from purchase.
Why We Partner with ZRT Laboratory
At Hormone Lab UK, every home test kit is analysed by ZRT Laboratory, a globally recognised, CLIA-certified diagnostic and research laboratory specialising in hormone testing, thyroid testing, fertility testing, adrenal function, neurotransmitter analysis, cardiometabolic health, heavy metals, and wellness testing. Founded in 1998 by renowned biochemist and breast cancer researcher Dr. David Zava, PhD, ZRT has become one of the world’s leading laboratories for advanced functional health testing.
With more than 11 million laboratory tests performed and healthcare professionals in over 96 countries relying on its expertise, ZRT is recognised for scientific excellence, analytical accuracy, and continuous innovation. The laboratory pioneered at-home saliva hormone testing, introduced the first commercially available dried blood spot (DBS) hormone tests, and developed Dried Urine Testing (DUTS), helping make advanced laboratory diagnostics more accessible and clinically meaningful.
Every sample is analysed using state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS technology under rigorous quality control standards. ZRT collaborates with the CDC, NIH, and leading universities, supporting ongoing research and advances in laboratory medicine.
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