Taking a blood or DNA test can be hard. Here are some tips.
You’ll want to try and collect this sample within 1 hour of waking, ideally between 7-9am.
Step 1) Write your name, date of birth, and the date you are collecting your sample on the collection card. The lab needs this information to successfully process your sample.
Step 2) Next you’ll want to hydrate. Drink 24-32oz of water 30 mins before you collect your sample. While hydrating, get your blood flowing with some light exercise like 45 seconds of jumping jacks or simply moving around to get your heart rate up. Run your fingers under the hottest water you can tolerate for 2 minutes, then shake your hands by your sides for 30 seconds.
Step 3) For the collection, you’ll want to pick one of your ring fingers and make sure you use the lancet just to the left or right side of the center of your fingertip – not in the center because there are more nerves there. Before using the lancet, clean your finger with the enclosed alcohol prep pad and let it air dry for 1 minute.
Step 4) Next, twist off the top of one of the lancets, this will activate it. Then, place your finger against a firm surface and press the lancet into the left or right side of your fingertip – gently applying pressure until you feel a click. Wipe off the first drop of blood then hold your finger over the collection card allowing blood to fall into each individual circle. Usually, it takes about 2-3 large free-falling drops to fill each circle. Make sure you don’t touch or tap the card while you are doing this. If you are having a hard time getting enough blood, try standing up and holding your hand down at your side to use gravity to increase blood flow.
Step 5) Once you have filled all circles, place a bandaid on your finger. You need to let your collection card dry completely, usually about 30-60 mins, before placing it in the biohazard bag. Place the card in the biohazard bag then the biohazard bag in the original box you received.
For more information, please watch the Collection Video, refer to the Collection Instructions included in your kit.
No. You should wait until you are healthy before collecting
Do NOT stop current hormone therapy prior to collection. Continue to use hormones daily as usual and follow the guidelines below for optimal timing of collection.
Hormone type sample collection guidelines:
Pills, Gels, Creams, Sprays (oral, topical*, vaginal): 12-24 hours AFTER last dose – do not apply to face or neck
Sublinguals and Troches (dissolve under tongue): 36 hours after last dosage
Patches: 1-2 days after applying patch
Injections/Pellets: Midpoint between injection/pellet inserts
The following also qualify as hormones (not limited to):
Birth control, melatonin, hydrocortisone, steroid injections, flonase, prednisone, creams containing pregnenolone, placental derivatives or stem cells. If using any of these, collect as above.
If you collect outside the recommended time frame above, this may result in hormone levels lower or higher than Nimbus reference ranges for hormone users.
Topical hormones, please note:
Do NOT use bare hands for topical hormone application for at least two days prior to saliva collection (apply hormones using latex gloves or preferably hormone-loaded syringe or applicator).
Do not apply hormones to face or neck. Apply hormones to areas of the body that can be covered by clothing to avoid transfer of hormones from fingers to face, lips, or mouth.
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after each application of hormones and dry with clean towel.
False-high saliva results can result when hormones from contaminated surfaces (faucets, counters, door knobs) or towels are transferred inadvertently from fingers/hands and then to face, lips, or mouth.
1. Grasp the narrow end of the lancet. Twist and pull off the cap. This will activate the lancet for use.
2. Place the tip of the lancet, which you’ve uncovered by removing the cap, firmly onto the middle-side of your fingertip.
3. Press the lancet into your fingertip until you feel a click, pricking the skin.
If you experience any problems with your lancets, please reach out to our support team at support@nimbushealthcare.com
There is no need to fast for this test. However, the collection should be done first thing in the morning within 3 hours of waking up, as testosterone levels can decrease throughout the day. Please return your sample via delivery carrier on the same day.
To ensure your sample is tested accurately and in a timely manner, please follow these steps for preparing for your collection:
- Make sure you're well hydrated by drinking a few glasses of water at least an hour before you collect your sample. If you're dehydrated, you may experience some difficulty producing larger, lady-bug size blood drops.
- Wash your hands with warm water (as hot as you can stand) to bring blood flow to your finger tips. Even 60 seconds in warm water increases blood flow by up to 60%.
- Get up and get moving! Even a few minutes of movement can help improve circulation. We usually recommend light walking or going up and down the stairs once.
Now you're ready to collect your sample! Just breathe, you got this. Here are some tips for getting the best possible sample collection:
- If this is your first collection, we recommend using your "ring" or index finger. This finger is usually less calloused, which will make it easier for the lancet to be effective.
- The lancet should be firmly pressed into the middle-side of the finger. Not in the middle, due to the nerves there and not too close to the side because it's more difficult to produce the amount of blood required there. Please see the picture below. Ideally, avoid choosing a spot that is either too close to the tip of the finger or are too close to the side.
- Always discard the first drop of blood onto your kit's alcohol pad without contacting the swab to the skin. Make sure you don't touch your fingertip to the alcohol pad to avoid contaminating your sample.
- If your blood is not flowing enough to naturally collect the required sample amount, massage where the knuckle of your collection finger and palm meet to increase blood flow.
- When possible, avoid squeezing your finger to extract drops of blood, as this can negatively affect the blood sample.
- Let gravity help you! Stand up, keep your hand below your chest and point your finger down towards the collection device, which will help the drops fall into the collection device.
At the end of your test, your sample should look like the acceptable sample shown below:
If your sample does not look like the picture on the left please send an email to support@nimbushealthcare.com.
If you need additional help or guidance with your sample collection, we'd be more than happy to help. Please send an email to support@nimbushealthcare.com
You can watch the below video or you can read on for step-by-step instructions
Nimbus's at-home test kits include everything you need for collection and can be ordered online or by phone (some restrictions may apply). When your sample has been collected, return the filled tube(s) with the completed paperwork in the pre-addressed, pre-paid packaging and mailer bag provided with the kit. Once Nimbus has received your sample, results will be returned to you and/or your health care provider in approximately 5 to 7 business days
Yes. You should begin collection the next morning. Just rinse the tube with warm water (no soap), allow to air dry, and collect within 20-30 minutes after waking and before eating, drinking, brushing or flossing your teeth.
If you are having difficulty collecting saliva, we have a few recommendations:
Note: Too many bubbles are often caused by spitting too frequently into the tube. To avoid bubbles, try pooling saliva in your mouth for several minutes before spitting. If your sample contains a large percentage of bubbles, cap the tube and tap it on a hard surface to disperse bubbles into liquid.
Drink extra water the day/night before collection to encourage the production of more saliva.
If your mouth is dry, try pressing the tip of your tongue against your teeth or the roof of your mouth. Smelling (not eating) a lemon or other foods can also produce saliva flow.
Allow saliva to pool in the mouth before collecting.
Chewing gum (even sugarless) is not advised as it may contaminate the sample.
If you are still unable to collect enough saliva in one day, cap the tube, place it in the refrigerator or freezer, and add more saliva at the same time the next day until the tube is at least half full. You may continue collecting in this way for up to 3 days.
To ensure accurate results, all tubes should be at least ½ full (preferably ¾ full) excluding bubbles.
You should collect your sample within 30 minutes of waking prior to eating, drinking, exercising, flossing or brushing your teeth, or taking hormones. For more information, please watch the Collection Video, refer to the Collection Instructions included in your kit.
Yes. Discontinue anti-wrinkle creams at least 3 days before collection. You may substitute moisturizing creams that are safe for infants during the three days.
Since oral contraceptives suppress ovarian hormone levels, the timing of the sample collection is less important. If you are discontinuing oral contraceptives, allow for withdrawal bleeding and wait until your next spontaneous cycle to test. We recommend collecting your sample on day 19-21 of your cycle.
Men can collect at any time of the month.
Women who:
Do not have menstrual cycles can collect any day. This would include women with hysterectomy, amenorrhea (abnormal absence of menses in women of reproductive age), and/or uterine/endometrial ablation (destruction of the uterine lining).
Have 'normal' menstrual cycles should collect day 19, 20 or 21 (counting the 1st day of bleeding as day 1)
Have irregular, unpredictable menstrual cycles can collect any day they are not bleeding.
Have some kind of cycle regularity but not at the typical lengths should follow these guidelines for collection: Long cycles – test at day 19-21 or from day 19 to 5 days prior to when the period is expected. For example, if the cycle is 35 days, collection can be done anytime between day 19 to day 30. Short cycles – collection should be done a couple of days prior to when bleeding starts. For example, someone with 14-day cycles should collect on day 12.
Are there specific herbal supplements/vitamins that can affect hormone levels?
While vitamins may improve your symptoms, they do not generally change lab results. However, please list all hormones, supplements and vitamins that you are taking on your requisition form.
The following products are available over-the-counter and may affect lab results (this is not an exhaustive list): progesterone, pregnenolone, DHEA, 7-Keto-DHEA (see special notice), hydrocortisone (cortisol). Continue to use topical hormones daily as prescribed, but avoid applying them to the face and neck areas for 3 days prior to testing. Rub in topical hormones without using fingers (e.g. wrist to wrist) for at least 2 days prior to collection. Skip use of anti-aging creams that may contain hormone traces.
NOTE: 7-Keto-DHEA is a variant form of DHEA and can create false elevations of DHEA and testosterone test results. Please discontinue use of sublingual 7-Keto-DHEAS for 3 days prior to testing. If using pill form, follow the oral collection instructions.
To collect a viable DNA sample, you just need to follow the simple steps below or in this video!
1) Start by carefully twisting open the collection tube to remove the swab – avoid touching the tip with your fingers or other surfaces. You’ll need to wet the swab first so place it on your tongue for 10 seconds to moisten it.
2) Firmly swab the inside of your right cheek using a back and forth brushing motion while rotating the swab 360 degrees. Continue to do this for 30 seconds.
3) Once done, repeat the same process on the other side of your mouth.
4) Carefully, without touching any other surfaces or putting it down, return the swab to the tube and close the lid tightly. Now, here’s the most important part, please don’t forget to apply the patient identifier sticker to the tube length-wise (do not wrap it around the tube) and then insert it into the biohazard specimen bag
To collect a viable DNA sample, you just need to follow the simple steps below or in this video!
1) Start by carefully twisting open the collection tube to remove the swab – avoid touching the tip with your fingers or other surfaces. You’ll need to wet the swab first so place it on your tongue for 10 seconds to moisten it.
2) Firmly swab the inside of your right cheek using a back and forth brushing motion while rotating the swab 360 degrees. Continue to do this for 30 seconds.
3) Once done, repeat the same process on the other side of your mouth.
4) Carefully, without touching any other surfaces or putting it down, return the swab to the tube and close the lid tightly. Now, here’s the most important part, please don’t forget to apply the patient identifier sticker to the tube length-wise (do not wrap it around the tube) and then insert it into the biohazard specimen bag
