Cortisol by LC-MS/MS, Salivary

Collect 1 mL or more of saliva (fully saturated swab).
Do not eat for 60 minutes prior to collecting specimen.
Do not consume alcohol 12 hours prior to collecting specimen.
Do not brush teeth or use toothpaste immediately before collecting specimen, as gums may bleed and contaminate specimen, causing a falsely elevated result.
Do not use mouthwash products prior to sample collection.
Avoid using lipstick, ChapStick, and other lip items prior to sample collection.
Avoid use of exogenous sources of cortisol (e.g., topical or oral hydrocortisone) or similar products during collection to reduce contamination.
Rinse mouth thoroughly with water 10 minutes before collecting specimen.
Recommended collection time is generally between 11:00 p.m. and 1 a.m. Your healthcare provider may also require different or additional collection times. Be sure to clearly label each tube collected with correct date and time.
Specimens visibly contaminated with blood, cellular debris, food particles, or mucus must be recollected.