Saliva testing is a consistent, highly accurate, & dependable method for measuring free testosterone levels.¹
Saliva can be used in a clinical setting to diagnose and monitor treatment of hormonal disorders.²
SimplyTest saliva sample preservation buffer increases test precision, accuracy, and assay reproducibility.³
Testing results available in 24-48 hours.

PAIN-FREE COLLECTION

When establishing an initial screen value with saliva, testing should be done on 2 consecutive days.
Initial therapy monitoring is often recommended at 4 weeks. Initial and treatment monitoring is recommended at 3 to 6 months to ensure patients are within the desired ranges.⁵
One saliva test is acceptable for the maintenance and monitoring of testosterone supplementation.

IN-HOME SELF-COLLECTION

Maintains post-collection in-device stability at room temperature.
Saliva testing is less expensive than conventional serum testing.
SimplyTest easily advances direct-to-consumer screening and monitoring application opportunities.

PATIENT SATISFACTION

Patients prefer the pain-free, non-invasive, and ease-of-use saliva testing offers.
Saliva collection avoids the stress impact a blood draw can have on hormone levels.
Reports demonstrate an increase in overall test participation & ongoing compliance with frequent testing regimens when saliva is offered.⁴
When screening or monitoring for disorders that require multiple specimen collections in a day, in weeks, or even months later, saliva easily enables the opportunity to deliver a testing sample with little to no impact to a patient’s regular routine.

[1] Keevil, B. G., MacDonald, P., Macdowall, W., Lee, D. M., Wu, F. C., & NATSAL Team (2014). Salivary testosterone measurement by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in adult males and females. Annals of clinical biochemistry, 51(Pt 3), 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004563213506412[2] Hammerich, K. H., Donahue, T. F., Rosner, I. L., Cullen, J., Kuo, H. C., Hurwitz, L., Chen, Y., Bernstein, M., Coleman, J., Danila, D. C., & Metwalli, A. R. (2017). Alkaline phosphatase velocity predicts overall survival and bone metastasis in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. Urologic oncology, 35(7), 460.e21–460.e28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2017.02.001[3] Alimetrix 2023, Testosterone Assay Validation Summary[4] Dhima, M., Salinas, T. J., Wermers, R. A., Weaver, A. L., & Koka, S. (2013). Preference changes of adult outpatients for giving saliva, urine and blood for clinical testing after actual sample collection. Journal of prosthodontic research, 57(1), 51–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpor.2012.09.004[5] Fui, M. N. T., Dupuis, P., & Grossmann, M. (2014). Lowered testosterone in male obesity: Mechanisms, morbidity and management. Asian Journal of Andrology, 16(2), 223-231. https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682X.122585

Meet the Lab

FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of understanding your patients’ cortisol levels?admin2023-05-04T16:57:05+00:00

What is the importance of understanding your patients’ cortisol levels?

Understanding a patient’s cortisol levels is important to diagnose and treat several co-morbid conditions, including Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease. A patient’s cortisol levels can also provide insight into his or her overall wellness, including sleep patterns and stress levels. (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 2018).

Is saliva a more accurate measurement of cortisol levels?admin2023-05-04T16:56:14+00:00

Is saliva a more accurate measurement of cortisol levels?

Although blood and saliva contain different amounts of cortisol, both provide accurate measurements. Testing saliva can help monitor cortisol levels over time. Saliva tests are less invasive and more cost-effective than blood tests. Furthermore, patients requiring frequent testing can avoid additional trips to the doctor for blood draws since salivary testing can be performed at home. Therefore, saliva testing is a preferred method of monitoring cortisol levels.

Keevil, B. G., MacDonald, P., Macdowall, W., Lee, D. M., Wu, F. C., & NATSAL Team (2014). Salivary testosterone measurement by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in adult males and females. Annals of clinical biochemistry, 51(Pt 3), 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004563213506412

What is the most common method of detecting cortisol?admin2023-05-04T16:55:02+00:00

What is the most common method of detecting cortisol?

A blood test has historically been the most common way to detect cortisol. Blood is drawn from an arm vein and sent to a laboratory for analysis. (U.S. National Library of Medicine).

How often should cortisol testing be done?admin2023-05-04T16:52:20+00:00

How often should cortisol testing be done?

Cortisol testing may be recommended at different intervals depending on physicians’ recommendations and treatment plans. Depending on the patient, testing might be needed every few months or once a year. For instance, a patient with Addison’s disease might need more frequent monitoring than a patient with Cushing’s disease. (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, 2018)

What is testosterone? Why do we need it?admin2023-04-24T18:57:50+00:00

What is testosterone? Why do we need it?

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the male and female reproductive organs that is essential for the development of sexual characteristics, including muscle mass and bone density. It also plays a critical role in the formation of male reproductive organs such as the testes and prostate gland.

Huo, S., Scialli, A. R., McGarvey, S., Hill, E., Tügertimur, B., Hogenmiller, A., Hirsch, A. I., & Fugh-Berman, A. (2016). Treatment of Men for “Low Testosterone”: A Systematic Review. PLoS One, 11 (9). http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0162480

What are the symptoms of abnormal testosterone levels?admin2023-04-24T18:59:11+00:00

What are the symptoms of abnormal testosterone levels?

Abnormal testosterone levels in males can cause low libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased muscle mass, and fatigue. Female symptoms include irregular menstrual cycles, reduced sex drive, and vaginal dryness.

Cunningham, G., & Toma, S. (2011). Why is androgen replacement in males controversial? The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 96(1), 38-52. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-1658

Are low testosterone levels dangerous?admin2023-04-24T19:00:35+00:00

Are low testosterone levels dangerous?

Testosterone plays an important role in physical and mental health. Low levels of testosterone can have various effects, such as weakened bones, higher fat percentage, and reduced muscle strength. It can also cause emotional disturbances, like depression and irritability.

Morgentaler, A., Traish, A., Hackett, G., Jones, T. H., & Ramasamy, R. (2019). Diagnosis and Treatment of Testosterone Deficiency: Updated Recommendations From the Lisbon 2018 International Consultation for Sexual Medicine. Sexual medicine reviews, 7(4), 636–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sxmr.2019.06.003

What test values suggest you might have low testosterone?admin2023-04-24T19:02:17+00:00

What test values suggest you might have low testosterone?

Females should have salivary testosterone levels of 5–46 pmol/L and males should have salivary testosterone levels of 93–378 pmol/L. (Keevil et al., 2014)

These numbers are highly sensitive to several factors, like age, medication, medical conditions, and the time of day and season when the test is taken. (Paduch et al., 2013)

Keevil, B. G., MacDonald, P., Macdowall, W., Lee, D. M., Wu, F. C., & NATSAL Team (2014). Salivary testosterone measurement by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in adult males and females. Annals of clinical biochemistry, 51(Pt 3), 368–378. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004563213506412

Paduch, D. A., Brannigan, R. E., Fuchs, E. F., Kim, E. D., Marmar, J. L., & Sandlow, J. I. (2014). The laboratory diagnosis of testosterone deficiency. Urology, 83(5), 980–988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2013.12.024

Why Add Saliva to Diagnose & Monitor the Treatment of Hormone Disorders?