Prep:

Send the sample Monday-Thursday only.

For menstruating women, this test MUST be completed on day #21 of your cycle (Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period).

Place the ice pack flat in freezer for at least 24 hours before shipping your samples. Unless instructed otherwise by your clinician, collect your samples on a typical day of stress (ie. workday or errand day), not a day off or vacation day. Drink plenty of water the day before saliva collection to improve oral hydration.

The Night Before: Do not drink caffeine or alcohol. Avoid heavy exercise and gently brush teeth (do not cause bleeding).

On Collection Day: Avoid taking any hormones. Do not drink caffeine or alcohol. Do not smoke and do not exercise heavily (walking or similar exercise is okay). Avoid eating bananas, chocolate, and acidic fruits. Collect saliva before taking any medications or supplements, if applicable.

One Hour Before Each Collection: Do not brush your teeth, floss your teeth, and do not use mouthwash. Do not eat, drink, or chew gum.

Step 1:

Rinse out your mouth thoroughly with water and wait 15 minutes before each collection. Fill out the patient information label using a pen. Let the ink dry before placing label on vial. Uncap the collection vial and collect saliva at the appropriate time (6-8 AM: must be 30 minutes after waking), 12-1 PM, 4-5 PM & 10 PM -12 AM). Fill vial with saliva to the 3 mL mark excluding foam/bubbles. If any foam/bubbles are collected these should be above the 3 mL fill line. To settle any bubbles/foam collected in the vial, lightly tap it on a hard surface and continue. Place the vial in the biohazard Ziploc bag and keep frozen until all samples are collected and you’re ready to ship.

Step 2:

Complete the Patient Submittal Form (leave “Billing Information” blank, since the lab will be billing Alexa directly) and complete the Patient Survey. It is important to list all supplements and medications on the Patient Submittal Form in the space provided. Insert both completed forms into the pouch located under the lid of the cardboard kit box. Place the biohazard Ziploc bag containing your collection vials into the box. Place the frozen ice pack on top of your samples, replace the insulated Styrofoam insert lid, and close the box. Insert the closed box into the UPS Laboratory Pak. Seal the Pak and affix the return shipping label. Drop the package off at any UPS location. For a list of UPS locations, visit www.ups.com.

If you have difficulty collecting saliva, here is some advice to make it easier to generate and collect the saliva:

-Hold your tongue against the roof of your mouth, yawn, or smell a cut of lemon or vinegar to help stimulate saliva production.

-Place the tip of the tongue behind the front teeth or run your tongue around your cheeks to help stimulate saliva production.

-Stimulate the salivary glands by gently massaging the outer cheeks (in front of ear and under the jawbone).