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How to test for hormone deficiencies
There is great debate about which method is best to detect hormone deficiencies.
The main alternatives are saliva, blood and urine testing. Each method offers some
advantages and disadvantages.
Although blood tests are the standard for many hormones, saliva testing is more
useful when several tests during the day are required (to avoid multiple needle sticks
or when the person has a phobia to needles. 24 hour urine tests are very useful when
determining the values during an entire day, which is not possible when a blood or
saliva spot test is performed and is very useful in checking several metabolites. Saliva
tests measure the free fraction of the hormone, which is the actual active molecule.
While at one point you might require a blood test, your healthcare provider can
determine other type of test in another occasion. Always discuss with your healthcare
provider the tests ordered and the results. We use blood test for growth hormone
(IGF-1, IGF-PB-3), and a basic metabolic panel (hemoglobin, cholesterol, liver
enzymes, etc) and saliva test for the rest of the hormones (thyroid, female and male
hormones, cortisol, etc)
If you have laboratory results that would like Dr. Maiquez analyze or discuss with you,
please send an email or call the office for an appointment
There is great debate about which method is best to detect hormone deficiencies.
The main alternatives are saliva, blood and urine testing. Each method offers some
advantages and disadvantages.
Although blood tests are the standard for many hormones, saliva testing is more
useful when several tests during the day are required (to avoid multiple needle sticks
or when the person has a phobia to needles. 24 hour urine tests are very useful when
determining the values during an entire day, which is not possible when a blood or
saliva spot test is performed and is very useful in checking several metabolites. Saliva
tests measure the free fraction of the hormone, which is the actual active molecule.
While at one point you might require a blood test, your healthcare provider can
determine other type of test in another occasion. Always discuss with your healthcare
provider the tests ordered and the results. We use blood test for growth hormone
(IGF-1, IGF-PB-3), and a basic metabolic panel (hemoglobin, cholesterol, liver
enzymes, etc) and saliva test for the rest of the hormones (thyroid, female and male
hormones, cortisol, etc)
If you have laboratory results that would like Dr. Maiquez analyze or discuss with you,
please send an email or call the office for an appointment
Adonis Maiquez, M.D.