saliva hormone panel

**ickythump** · 12-04-2013, 05:21 PM

I've been reading about a saliva based hormone panel because my state is one of like 5 in the u.s. where it's apparently impossible to get hormone blood tests without a prescription ( even the few online labs that offer any work can't get hormone). anyone ever heard of the saliva test??

**kelkel** · 12-04-2013, 06:37 PM

Salivary Sex Hormone Measurement in a National, Population-Based Study of Older Adults

**David LoPan** · 12-04-2013, 06:56 PM

IMHO a sample of 3,005 U.S. men and women, ages 57–85 years, is not a good sample for study. I would prefer a much larger study. Also IMO the procedure - "Following procedures developed by Granger and colleagues (2007), whole unstimulated saliva was collected by passive drool. Approximately 2 mililiters of saliva was donated into a small, code-labeled polypropylene collection vial via a 5 centimeter section of a household plastic straw. The time of last food consumption and time of the saliva specimen collection were recorded." is not a good way to collect. Also with saliva collection the salivary glands can be triggered with smells, hunger, etc.

I didn't see any other factors I would like to see in a study. That is a wide rage in years, no back ground information about the sample group, medications that they were on and if it was compared with blood results. The study is not all bad but again, IMHO, I would go with blood work.

**ickythump** · 12-04-2013, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Salivary Sex Hormone Measurement in a National, Population-Based Study of Older Adults

that's awesome, thank you

**ickythump** · 12-04-2013, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by BigTahl

IMHO a sample of 3,005 U.S. men and women, ages 57–85 years, is not a good sample for study. I would prefer a much larger study. Also IMO the procedure - "Following procedures developed by Granger and colleagues (2007), whole unstimulated saliva was collected by passive drool. Approximately 2 mililiters of saliva was donated into a small, code-labeled polypropylene collection vial via a 5 centimeter section of a household plastic straw. The time of last food consumption and time of the saliva specimen collection were recorded." is not a good way to collect. Also with saliva collection the salivary glands can be triggered with smells, hunger, etc.

I didn't see any other factors I would like to see in a study. That is a wide rage in years, no back ground information about the sample group, medications that they were on and if it was compared with blood results. The study is not all bad but again, IMHO, I would go with blood work.

I cannot get blood work done where I live as I stated in the original post

**David LoPan** · 12-04-2013, 08:14 PM

May I ask why you don't just go to a doctor and get blood work done? There is a lot of doctors that will give a very nice cash discount and order what ever blood work you want. Im sure that the saliva test is not going to be cheap. It was a study, not a lab that is offering a service for a price. IMO I think it would be cheaper in the long run to get a doctor to order your blood work and then RX you what you might need.

From just one site that offers this service I found this: Assuming your from Buffalo, NY
New York State residents:
NY State health law prohibits "X" Laboratory from processing Internet orders for New York State residents at this time. Please contact "X" Laboratory Customer Service at number listed for more information.

**ickythump** · 12-04-2013, 10:27 PM

I just signed up for insurance thru work and I can't risk having them drop me or something because they think I'm using aas, it's family insurance I have a young child and I just don't want that attention, so if I can find an alternative that would be great. what do you mean a study price? and is the service you're referring to in the edited portion a blood test or did you see that even the saliva test is prohibited??

**David LoPan** · 12-04-2013, 10:49 PM

Sorry, I meant that was a study so there was not a cost to get that information on the people in the study. You would have to pay out of pocket for the saliva test. I got that saliva test is prohibited in NY for that lab due to NY laws. It was an internet site. Just google saliva test labs and look for fine print.

Getting a new PCP and asking for a full blood workup including a hormone panel and a psa would not get you to lose insurance at all. Now if your numbers came back off the chart for something then it could send up red flags or more tests. But the insurance company will not see your lab work. Google some symptoms for why you might want all those tests done and BS a little. A younger doctor is easier to get what you want than an older well established doctor, IMO. Then when you get your results you can say, lets wait and see and retest in a few months before any meds... If not try another PCP. Oh PCP is primary care physician.

**Ashop** · 12-05-2013, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by ickythump

I've been reading about a saliva based hormone panel because my state is one of like 5 in the u.s. where it's apparently impossible to get hormone blood tests without a prescription ( even the few online labs that offer any work can't get hormone). anyone ever heard of the saliva test??

We have used them before in the past with some success. In areas where its hard to find testing they are a good
alternative,,but these days if you look around,,,you can find blood work at similar pricing.