Quest Diagnostics - Salivary Cortisol

[mesmereyes]

How reliable is the salivary 4x cortisol from Quest Diagnostics. I just noticed that they offer it. I can get a script and save myself the 150 dollars from Genova. That'd be great. I think Quest may test for 3 values but it's better than spending the dough on Genova. Also, is DHEA also available with this test as it is with Genova's?

Thanks.

[Bigpete757]

Originally Posted by mesmereyes

How reliable is the salivary 4x cortisol from Quest Diagnostics. I just noticed that they offer it. I can get a script and save myself the 150 dollars from Genova. That'd be great. I think Quest may test for 3 values but it's better than spending the dough on Genova. Also, is DHEA also available with this test as it is with Genova's?

Thanks.

I am not sure how the Quest test works, but I would imagine that it is very reliable as most of their tests are. Could you give us the link of the test on Quest website? Maybe it isn't up yet, but I searched for it and was unable to locate it. If they do have it, I agree that would be great and would save people alot of money. The only link I found for saliva cortisol on the Quest website is Cortisol, Saliva, LC/MS/MS - (19897)
and it is swab that is once in the morning. They also have a link for a 4 specimen cortisol test, which looks like it may use blood. And with this test, I am not sure how it works with how timing is spread out, but it may be useful. If you find out some more info, please keep us updated. Thanks.

[Bigpete757]

Originally Posted by Bigpete757

I am not sure how the Quest test works, but I would imagine that it is very reliable as most of their tests are. Could you give us the link of the test on Quest website? Maybe it isn't up yet, but I searched for it and was unable to locate it. If they do have it, I agree that would be great and would save people alot of money. The only link I found for saliva cortisol on the Quest website is Cortisol, Saliva, LC/MS/MS - (19897)
and it is swab that is once in the morning. They also have a link for a 4 specimen cortisol test, which looks like it may use blood. And with this test, I am not sure how it works with how timing is spread out, but it may be useful. If you find out some more info, please keep us updated. Thanks.

I think I found the link to the test which is Cortisol, Free and Total, LC/MS/MS - (37077)
I just read a post which had this test in it from Quest, 8AM/4PM/10PM---Cortisol, Free and Total, LC/MS/MS (37077X)
This is the same test. I got the test info from one of Janz posts, so I am sure he will chime in to explain how it works. Thank you for posting this thread as this will probably save people alot of money.

[marianco]

Thanks for the information.

Looks like Quest is starting to add tests that are done by alternative medicine labs. Since patients often pay for these labs out of pocket and full rate, Quest looks to make a lot of money on these tests as well.

The usefulness of having Quest do the lab test is that insurance is more likely to consider the test as a standard test and is more likely to pay for it. This would be a win for a lot of patients.

For saliva cortisol, it looks like the doctor has to order it two or more times to get the four time spread of the usual saliva cortisol test.