Test ID: SB-650 | 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.
16 markers total — a complete picture of androgenic balance, the full daily cortisol rhythm, and autoimmune thyroid function in a single at-home kit.
Related Symptoms
Persistent fatigue, low libido, erectile dysfunction, unexplained weight gain, poor exercise recovery, brain fog, low mood, feeling cold, dry skin, hair thinning, acne, gynaecomastia, insomnia, chronic stress, burnout, or symptoms of low testosterone with normal standard blood results.
Did You Know?
Cortisol-driven T3 suppression produces identical symptoms to hypothyroidism — fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, brain fog, low libido — with a completely normal TSH. This pattern is only detectable when Free T3 is measured alongside the 4-point cortisol rhythm. Hashimoto’s autoimmunity (TPO and Tg antibodies) is frequently present in men years before TSH becomes abnormal — making antibody testing essential for early detection of the most common cause of thyroid dysfunction in men under 50.
Who Should Consider This Test?
- Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest or sleep
- Low libido, erectile dysfunction, or reduced sexual performance
- Unexplained weight gain, particularly around the abdomen
- Poor recovery from exercise or sustained high workload
- Brain fog, poor concentration, or low mood
- Feeling cold, dry skin, or hair thinning
- Acne, oily skin, or gynaecomastia
- 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 comprehensive hormonal and thyroid monitoring
- Diagnosed or suspected Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroid disease
- Family history of thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, or metabolic syndrome
- Men over 35 seeking a comprehensive androgenic and thyroid health assessment
Why This Test Is Particularly Important for Men
- Cortisol is the primary suppressor of testosterone — through pregnenolone steal and direct Leydig cell suppression, chronic cortisol elevation drives compounding hormonal deficit that TSH and total testosterone blood tests cannot detect
- Thyroid dysfunction is a major and overlooked cause of low testosterone — hypothyroidism directly suppresses Leydig cell function; cortisol-driven T3 suppression produces identical symptoms with a normal TSH
- Saliva LC-MS/MS measures free, bioavailable testosterone — a man with elevated SHBG from ageing or thyroid dysfunction can have normal total testosterone but critically low free testosterone
- All three estrogens reveal the full estrogenic load — excess estradiol from visceral fat and cortisol suppresses testosterone and drives cardiovascular risk; Estrone (E1) and Estriol (E3) provide aromatase activity context that Estradiol (E2) alone cannot
- TPO and Tg antibodies detect autoimmune thyroid disease years before TSH becomes abnormal — both markers are required as some men have elevated Tg antibodies with normal TPO
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
- 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 16 marker results with male-specific reference ranges
- Visual charts for all six sex hormones, your full 4-point cortisol curve, and thyroid panel values
- Integrated clinical interpretation of how testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, DHEAS, cortisol, and thyroid markers interact by a Hormone Specialist PhD Doctor
- Cortisol-thyroid interaction assessment — including whether cortisol is impairing T3 conversion and suppressing Leydig cell function
- 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 is LC-MS/MS used for sex hormones?
LC-MS/MS measures free, bioavailable hormones — the fraction actually reaching cells and driving androgenic function. A man with high SHBG can have normal total testosterone but critically low free testosterone. LC-MS/MS reveals the true androgenic picture that standard blood tests miss.
Why do men need estrogen tested?
Men produce estradiol through aromatase conversion of testosterone. Excess estradiol suppresses testosterone, causes gynaecomastia, and drives fat accumulation. Measuring all three estrogens — Estradiol (E2), Estriol (E3), and Estrone (E1) — reveals the full estrogenic load and aromatase activity driving hormonal imbalance.
Can I use this test if I am on TRT or levothyroxine?
Yes. This test is particularly valuable for men on TRT wanting to monitor estradiol balance, cortisol pattern, and thyroid function alongside testosterone.
Why measure cortisol at four time points?
Each time point has different hormonal and metabolic consequences. A single cortisol value cannot distinguish between adrenal burnout, high morning reactivity, evening elevation, or night excess — each requiring a different intervention.
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.
