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Looking to understand more about the home test for adrenal fatigue?

Good news! I’ve taken this one several times, so i’m just the person to help you through it.

Note: This post was originally published in 2015. I am updating now with new information, given that I have just taken the test again and can provide you with even more.

My Journey with HPA Axis Dysfunction

I’m no stranger to home tests for adrenal fatigue.

When I was diagnosed with SIBO in 2014, my functional MD thought I definitely had this going on, too. (Spoiler alert: I did)

At the time, I was writing a ton about adrenal health – what it was, what my symptoms were, what I was doing about it, and more.

Here are the articles that accompanied that time period, if you want to see them:

1. Adrenal Fatigue and SIBO Testing
2. Thyroid, SIBO, Adrenal Fatigue Check In
3. SIBO, Adrenal Fatigue and Autoimmune Update
4. 8 Things I am Doing for SIBO, Adrenal Fatigue and Autoimmune

And then early this year (2024), I wrote: The 4 Stages of Adrenal Fatigue (because I tested again, and it wasn’t pretty).

What is Adrenal Fatigue?

The adrenal glands are small glands located on top of each kidney. They produce hormones that you can’t live without, including sex hormones and cortisol. Cortisol helps you respond to stress and has many other important functions. (source)

​You’ll make note that I already called it HPA axis dysfunction.

This is something to be super aware of.

While we “common healers” call it Adrenal Fatigue, the medical term is HPA axis dysfunction.

The reason the distinction is important is because if you go into your doctor and ask for a simple adrenal fatigue test, you might get an eye roll. 

The true term is: HPA-Axis Dysfunction.

Restoration Healthcare states it as such,

HPA axis dysfunction is a more accurate diagnosis than adrenal fatigue because it recognizes that the adrenal gland does not operate in a vacuum; problems upstream of the adrenal gland can and often do impact adrenal function. “HPA” refers to the three components involved in adrenal hormone production.

These three components include:

1. Hypothalamus
2. Pituitary Gland
3. Adrenal Glands

All three work together.

But, specifically, the adrenal glands:

….release certain hormones directly into the bloodstream. Many of these hormones have to do with how the body responds to stress, and some are vital to existence. Both parts of the adrenal glands — the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla — perform distinct and separate functions.

Significance of the Adrenal Glands

Besides the more medical definition of the adrenal glands, here are some common terms to help you understand what they do and why they are so important:

1. Adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system.
2. They produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.
3. ….and when they do not produce enough hormones it can lead to adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease).
4. The adrenal glands work to produce cortisol.
5. Other parts of the body the adrenal glands work with: hypothalamus, pituitary gland, kidneys, sympathetic nervous system

The adrenal glands are imperative to overall health.

Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms (in Females)

The following symptoms are pretty common in women who have adrenal fatigue:

1. anxiety (‘wired’ but tired)
2. insomnia and frequent waking
3. chronic fatigue and low energy levels
4. bodywide pain or fibromyalgia
5. immune, weakness or recurring viruses (like EBV, Lyme)
6. depression
7. digestive disorders (like Irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut)
8. lightheadedness and low blood sugar
9. salt and sugar cravings
10. muscle weakness
11. loss of appetite
12. weight loss
13. low libido
14. irregular or no menstrual period
15. chronic stress

Sources: HERE, HERE, and HERE

Home Test for Adrenal Fatigue

Click HERE to save this article on the home test for adrenal fatigue for later.

I have never taken this test at my doctor’s office.

Instead, my doctor(s) have ordered them for me, I take them home, complete, and ship off for evaluation.

Once, though, when I was in a Western medicine doctor’s office and used the words “adrenal fatigue,” she gave me an eye roll, didn’t listen to anything I was saying, and told me that if adrenal fatigue was truly the case, I’d have Addison’s disease.

And the test for that is via blood test at the lab. So, in that case, I did do a blood sample in office.

However…….

The results were negative, so I never got any adequate help, and kept getting worse.

Moving on…..

Because adrenal fatigue is dismissed by conventional medicine, you might have a hard time getting it from your primary doctor.

Don’t let that deter you from getting the test done if you think you might be suffering from it. 

Find a new doctor to get a second opinion so you can get the adrenal fatigue test.

I have taken these tests through both BioHealth Laboratory and Doctor’s Data.

The below information is for the Doctor’s Data one, as this was my most recent home collection kit.

How to Prepare for the Adrenal Fatigue Test

The adrenal fatigue test takes one day. 

There is not a huge preparation for taking the test, but there are some key rules on the day you take the test. 

On the day of collection, you should:

• avoid any supplements until after you have collected all four sample
• your first saliva collection MUST be 30 minutes after waking up
• do no eat or drink anything 1 hour prior to saliva collection
• do not brush, floss, or have dental work done 30 minutes prior to saliva collection
• avoid caffeine
• before each saliva collection, wash hands and rinse mouth with water, but wait 10 minutes to collect your saliva sample
• all use of cosmetics, other than “anti-aging” creams, is permitted

Because I was already doing my 10-day detox, all of these were super easy.

The hardest one for most, who are used to drinking a lot of caffeine as I have been, is not having the caffeine.

But by the time I took this test, I was already 7 days caffeine-free.

What is Contained in the Adrenal Fatigue Testing Kit?

This (specific) testing kit comes with the following:

• 4 collection vials; color-coded for morning, noon, afternoon and night-time
• Information labels to accompany them
• A bio-hazard specimen bag
• insulated cooler with lid
• ice pack
• requisition form (your healthcare provider will have filled out most of this)
• return packing and shipping components

Adrenal Fatigue Collection Timing

Your doctor will instruct you as to what day you should be taking for the type of test given.

For example, the test I took needed to be completed somewhere between Day 19 – 21 of my cycle.

I chose Day 20, as it was the day that I had nothing going on (a Sunday).

The test monitors biochemical activity over the course of a single day. 

The timing of collection is very important, and if you miss a collection slot, you have to start over a different day.

Because of this, I strongly recommend that you choose a day where you can be at home the entire day, resting and relaxing and able to closely monitor timing and all other aspects of the test.

Both times I have done this test I have adhered to those rules, and I can’t imagine doing it any other way, with chaos.

Test Tube Collection Times:

• early morning – 30 minutes after waking; before breakfast
• before lunch
• before dinner
• right before bedtime

My Exact Times Were:

• 7:39 am
• 11:57 am
• 4:58 pm
• 8:48 pm

How to Do an Adrenal Fatigue Collection?

The way you collect samples is via saliva (which you put into the test kit vials). 

You rinse your mouth out with water about 10 minutes prior. 

Then, you collect the required amount for each. 

This particular adrenal stress test instructed to fill the vials 3/4 full; bubbles are okay.

I personally did not find it hard to produce that much saliva, but in case you do, here are a few tips:

1. hold tongue against the roof of the mouth
2. yawn
3. smell a cut lemon
4. think about anything sour

Collection Completion

Once you have completed each sample, you put the cap back on firmly, record the exact time taken on your paperwork, and then the vial must immediately go into the freezer until it’s ready to ship.

The samples are sensitive so they can only ship via 2-day air, and must stay frozen/cold. 

For this reason, you’ll be provided with packaging materials to accompany such shipping (gel packs, metallic bubble envelope, etc.)

And finally, because the samples must arrive frozen and then remain frozen, you are only able to ship on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, which is something else you’ll have to take into consideration for planning purposes.

Then What?

​Once your samples arrive to the lab, you are likely to have results within 3 – 5 days. 

Depending on results and the possibility of adrenal fatigue, your practitioner will guide you for what will be the best next steps.

What are the Doctor’s Data Diagnostic Tests Testing For?

Your practitioner will specify the hormone profile desired.

For me: Comprehensive Hormone Profile which includes E2, Pg, T, D and Cortisol.

To be clear: Estradiol, Prostaglandin, Testosterone, DHEA levels and Cortisol.

But there are other profiles as well, which you can see here.

The reason my doctor doesn’t only do the Adrenal Function Profile is because I have had very low levels in the past of Testosterone and Cortisol. And low DHEA.

​If you want to see more from the Doctor’s Data test:

1. An example set of test results
2. Collection Instructions

I hope this information has been valuable.

As always, let me know if you have any questions.

If you liked this article on the Home Test for Adrenal Fatigue, you might also enjoy:

1. Testing
2. My Story
3. Best Supplements for IBS Bloating

Xox,
SKH