How to prepare
You'll collect four saliva samples across a single day. Here's how to prepare:
Collection times: Samples are taken at 8 am, noon, 4 pm, and 8 pm. Set phone alarms for each one. Consistent timing gives the most useful results.
Food and drink: Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and high-sugar foods on collection day. Water is fine between samples. Don't eat or drink anything other than water in the 30 minutes before each sample.
Exercise: Skip intense exercise on collection day. Light walking is fine.
Medications: Some medications (especially corticosteroids) can affect cortisol levels. If you take prescription medication, check with your healthcare provider about whether to adjust timing. Don't stop prescribed medication without medical advice.
Supplements: Pause adaptogenic supplements (ashwagandha, rhodiola, etc.) for 48 hours before collection day if possible.
Collection method: Use the salivettes (cotton swabs) provided in your kit. Place the swab under your tongue for 2 to 3 minutes until saturated. Return the swab to its tube, label it with the collection time, and store in the fridge until all four are done.
Returning your kit: Pack all four tubes in the prepaid return satchel and post on the same day or next business day.
After the test
Share your results with a qualified healthcare practitioner, ideally one experienced in adrenal health or functional medicine. They can interpret your cortisol curve alongside your symptoms and health history.
If your practitioner wants a more detailed picture, particularly of your morning cortisol response or DHEA-S levels, they may recommend following up with the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR) Saliva Test.
Many people retest every 3 to 6 months to track how their cortisol pattern changes over time.
Your test results will be available in your private dashboard. If there are any urgent issues, we'll let you know so you can follow up with your health professional.
Understanding results
Your report plots your cortisol levels at each of the four collection times against the expected daily curve. You'll see whether your morning, midday, afternoon, and evening levels fall within typical ranges.
Common patterns practitioners look for include lower-than-expected morning cortisol, elevated evening levels (which may suggest the body isn't winding down on schedule), and an overall flattened curve where the difference between morning highs and evening lows is smaller than expected.
Note: this test maps four points across the day but does not capture the cortisol awakening response. If your practitioner wants to assess that early-morning spike in detail, the CAR test is the better option.
