Test ID: SB-648 | 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
What Does This Test Measure?
Saliva — Sex Hormones & Cortisol (LC-MS/MS): Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), Estrone (E1), Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEAS, Cortisol.
Blood Spot — CardioMetabolic Panel: Fasting Insulin, HbA1c, HDL Cholesterol, Triglycerides, Total Cholesterol, hsCRP.
13 markers total — an integrated assessment of male sex hormones, stress hormones, and cardiometabolic risk in a single at-home kit.
Related Symptoms
Persistent fatigue, unexplained abdominal weight gain, low libido, erectile dysfunction, poor exercise recovery, brain fog, low mood, sugar cravings, energy crashes, elevated cholesterol or triglycerides on previous testing, insomnia, chronic stress, burnout, or symptoms of low testosterone with normal standard blood results.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest or sleep
- Unexplained weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
- Low libido, erectile dysfunction, or reduced sexual performance
- Poor recovery from exercise or sustained high-pressure workload
- Brain fog, poor concentration, or low mood
- Sugar cravings, energy crashes, or afternoon slumps
- Elevated cholesterol, triglycerides, or blood sugar on previous testing
- Insomnia, night waking, or unrefreshing sleep
- Chronic stress or burnout
- Symptoms of low testosterone with normal or inconclusive standard blood results
- Currently on TRT and wanting to monitor estradiol, insulin, and inflammation alongside testosterone
- Family history of heart disease, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome
- Men over 35 seeking a comprehensive androgenic and cardiometabolic health baseline
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Men
- Low testosterone is a primary and independent cardiometabolic risk factor — it independently raises triglycerides, suppresses HDL, promotes visceral fat, elevates hsCRP, and increases the risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes
- Cortisol is the central disruptor of testosterone and every cardiometabolic marker simultaneously — measuring it via saliva LC-MS/MS alongside the cardiometabolic markers reveals the hormonal root cause of metabolic deterioration
- Insulin resistance and testosterone decline are mutually reinforcing — elevated insulin promotes aromatase-driven estrogen conversion, suppressing testosterone; low testosterone worsens insulin sensitivity; fasting insulin is the earliest detectable marker, elevated years before HbA1c becomes abnormal
- Estradiol imbalance compounds every cardiometabolic risk factor — excess estradiol from visceral fat suppresses testosterone, raises triglycerides, and drives hsCRP elevation
- hsCRP is the convergence biomarker of the entire male hormonal-metabolic axis — elevated simultaneously by low testosterone, cortisol dysregulation, insulin resistance, visceral fat, and estradiol excess
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 your saliva sample (morning before 9am for optimal cortisol accuracy) and blood spot via finger-prick
- 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 13 marker results with male-specific reference ranges
- Visual charts for all sex hormones, cortisol, and all six cardiometabolic markers
- Integrated clinical interpretation connecting cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, and cardiometabolic risk by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Personalised next-step recommendations
- 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 test hormones and cardiometabolic markers together?
In men, testosterone, cortisol, and insulin form a single integrated metabolic system. Low testosterone independently raises cardiovascular risk and worsens insulin resistance. Cortisol simultaneously suppresses testosterone and drives every cardiometabolic risk marker. Testing both together reveals hormonal root causes of metabolic symptoms that single-system testing cannot achieve.
Why is saliva LC-MS/MS used for sex hormones and cortisol?
Saliva LC-MS/MS measures free, bioavailable hormones — the fraction actually reaching cells and driving androgenic and metabolic function. A man with high SHBG can have normal total testosterone but critically low free testosterone with full androgenic deficiency symptoms. Saliva LC-MS/MS captures this clinically important distinction.
Can I use this test if I am on TRT?
Yes. This test is particularly valuable for men on TRT wanting to monitor estradiol balance, insulin sensitivity, triglycerides, and inflammation alongside testosterone.
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.
