How hormone testing works

The samples are obtained at specified times in the comfort of your own home or at any location of your choosing. Once you have performed the sampling, use the supplied envelope to return the samples to the laboratory.

Following laboratory analysis, you receive your results and, where included with your chosen test, your personalised report.

When you order a home test kit from Persometrics, you will receive sampling vials, a packing slip including your anonymous code and an envelope for returning the samples.

Instructions are provided through our online platform, to which you will be given access once you receive your test kit.

Persometrics uses the passive drool method for saliva collection, as illustrated opposite. Simply allow saliva to collect in your mouth and transfer it into the collection tube using the supplied straw.

Every test kit includes clear, step-by-step sampling instructions, available online as well as with your kit, making sample collection straightforward and convenient at home.

Once your samples have been collected, place them in the prepaid return mailer supplied with your kit. There is no need to visit a post office; the envelope is designed to fit into a standard public mailbox.

We recommend storing your samples in the refrigerator until they are ready to be posted. For the quickest turnaround, post your samples on the day of collection or the following day, preferably between Monday and Thursday, and avoid posting immediately before weekends or public holidays.

Following these recommendations helps ensure the highest possible quality of your saliva samples and improves the reliability of your laboratory results.

• For stress profiling, choose a typical working day that reflects your normal routine. Ensure that the postal service will be operating on the day after sample collection.
• Do not consume alcohol during the 24 hours before collecting your saliva samples.
• During the hour before each saliva collection, do not eat, drink (except water), smoke or brush your teeth.
• Certain medications, including prednisone, dexamethasone and other corticosteroids, may influence cortisol measurements. If you are unsure whether your medication could affect the analysis, please contact Persometrics before ordering.
• Never collect saliva if your gums are bleeding or if food residue is present in your mouth. If you notice any discolouration in your saliva samples, discard all collection tubes and contact Persometrics for replacement tubes.

The content and level of detail of your report depend on the home test kit you choose. You will receive your laboratory results together with clear information to help you understand them.

For tests that include a personalised Persometrics report, biomarker results may be combined with questionnaire data to provide a broader picture of your individual profile.

Depending on the test, your report may include an overview of your results, graphical representations of your biomarker measurements, comparisons with relevant reference information, and more detailed explanations of the factors considered in your profile.

Reports may also contain personalised educational information relating to areas such as stress, sleep, nutrition or physical activity, together with scientific references for those who would like to explore the underlying research in greater depth.

Persometrics reports are designed for personal education and empowerment. They do not provide a medical diagnosis and do not replace assessment or advice from a qualified healthcare professional.