Re: saliva testing questions

August 18, 2007

>

> Well, I finally got enough $$ together and ordered the saliva testing.

> I ordered the ZRT kit so that I could do the spot blood tests for

> thyroid too.

>

> I just looked through the kit materials this morning and discovered

> that the saliva testing is collecting saliva NOT swabbing saliva. I

> didn't realize this; I thought it would be cheek swabbing, like when

> you do the genetic testing for celiac/gluten.

>

> My problem is -- I don't have enough saliva to spit! I have very very

> very bad dry mouth... and dry eyes, dry everything. I think the dry

> mouth is partly a side effect of the pain meds I take, but one of my

> docs is also starting to consider Sjogren's. I can't function at all

> (like can't get out of bed can't function) if I don't take the meds,

> so it's not like I could stop for a few days to produce some saliva.

> Also, if I really do have early Sjogren's, there wouldn't be any anyway.

I have problems with this, but I can produce enough in 30-40 minutes.

They have suggestions in the instructions for how to produce more

saliva. Also the instructions say you can collect the saliva for up

to 5 days, so each day you add a little more to the vials, keeping

them in the freezer in the meantime. I have done that on one occasion.

If none of that works, you may have to ask for your money back.

(I haven't done the CC ZRT test - I guess they ask for the money up

front? The Diagnos-techs kit from CC doesn't ask for payment until

you mail in the samples.)

The Diagnos-techs ASI test that I have done through doctors does

not involve filling a tube. Instead you put a cotton roll in your

mouth to collect the saliva, then the cotton roll goes into the

sample tube. I don't know if you have enough saliva for that

either - I would call them and ask about it.

--

> So, how am I ever going to collect half a tube full?????? Let alone

> do it 4 times the same day? Is the Diagnos-tech test the same way?

> Has anyone else with this problem been able to do the test? Have I

> just wasted $200?????

>

> Any ideas on how to produce saliva?

>

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