Original of this article was published on ZRT Laboratory Blog. Last reviewed: May 2026.
The current concern over dangerous infectious viruses has heightened awareness about infections that can be transmitted via contact with body fluids. The last thing we want is to be exposed to body fluids from others infected with dangerous organisms — and ironically, a likely place to encounter such fluids is the phlebotomy station at the doctor’s office.
How At-Home Collection Minimises Infection Risk
One way to minimise exposure is to use at-home sample collection methods — a hallmark of ZRT lab testing — which ensure seclusion and don’t require samples to be handled around other patients. No blood is drawn and transferred to tubes at the doctor’s office, and no wet urine or saliva is handled or collected except at home.
Drying blood spot and urine samples for shipment to the lab ensures that most pathogens are inactivated — transmission of infections, particularly viruses, requires contact with a liquid body fluid. Enveloped viruses, which have a protective lipid envelope covering the protein capsid, are particularly sensitive to drying; a dry sample therefore carries very minimal (almost zero) risk of infection while en route to the lab.
Why At-Home Collection Is Clinically Superior for Certain Tests
Self-sampling at home is not only simple and convenient — it is in fact essential for capturing the most clinically accurate results for certain hormones. The waking saliva sample for a diurnal cortisol assessment must be collected at the moment of waking, before eating or drinking, to capture the cortisol awakening response accurately. Our All Day Cortisol Test (LCMS) measures cortisol across four time points throughout the day — a pattern that can only be captured accurately through at-home saliva collection, not a single clinic blood draw.
Similarly, the first-morning urine void is required for accurate testing of night-time melatonin production, and a fasting sample is needed for insulin assessment. Our Advanced Neurotransmitter & Hormone Test II uses dried urine collection to measure melatonin, neurotransmitters and key hormones — all from samples collected at home at the precise times required for clinical accuracy.
Patients can eat breakfast and get ready to start their day while blood spot and urine samples dry before mailing off to the lab. Our Comprehensive Female Saliva Hormone Profile (LCMS) is a good example of how saliva collection at home provides a comprehensive picture of oestradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S and cortisol — without a clinic visit.
Laboratory Safety: How ZRT Handles Your Samples
The laboratory at ZRT is CLIA-certified, requiring documentation of, and adherence to, exacting procedures for testing. Safety procedures include requirements for safe handling and disposal of chemicals used for testing, and the control of any pathogens transmitted via contact with body fluids.
At ZRT, we closely follow the guidelines for blood-borne pathogen exposure control as outlined by OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1910.1030. These require laboratory personnel to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling any biological samples, proper disposal of samples to prevent any infection risk, and cleaning of all work surfaces and equipment that may come into contact with biological samples.
The best disinfectant active against the widest range of infectious agents — including both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses — is a bleach (sodium hypochlorite) solution. Guidelines issued by OSHA, the CDC, and the WHO all emphasise that bleach solution must be prepared fresh daily, as chlorine slowly evaporates. At ZRT, a 10% bleach solution is prepared fresh every day for routine disinfection of work surfaces and lab equipment.
ZRT: A Pioneer in At-Home Testing
ZRT is committed to improving the health and wellness of people who test with us — not only with reliable, accurate test results but by ensuring that people can collect samples simply and conveniently in their own homes. A pioneer of lab testing using at-home collection methods, ZRT has offered commercial testing in saliva since 1998, in dried blood spot since 2004, and in dried urine since 2013.
*Standard Operating Procedures at ZRT are reviewed, updated, and re-approved at least annually, covering testing methods, quality control of all assays, sample processing procedures, HIPAA compliance, regular calibration and maintenance of all laboratory equipment, and strict guidelines for safety of lab personnel.
Original of this article was published on ZRT Laboratory Blog.