Dim light offset testing is probably more useful than onset when deciding on the optimal time to initiate bright light therapy
CARLSBAD, Calif. (PRWEB)
September 07, 2022
Salimetrics now offers three different Circadian Phase Test kits, all at the same cost, and can be selected based on an initial sleep evaluation with a sleep healthcare provider. Patients now have the flexibility to test dim light melatonin onset or offset, and a partial or full 24-hour sleep-wake cycle, providing a unique window into each individual’s specific circadian rhythm.
Adding new profiles came at the request of a prominent sleep physician from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston (Harvard Medical School). “It may have all started with the DLMO test, but Dr. Robert Thomas made a compelling request for additional circadian profiles,” says Steve Granger, Ph.D., Salimetrics Chief Scientific Officer. “Dim light offset testing is probably more useful than onset when deciding on the optimal time to initiate bright light therapy,” says Dr. Thomas. “This is especially important when a late start of sleep is paired with a relatively early forced awakening for social reasons – it is then hard to estimate the true end of the biological night. Mapping the biological night (measuring over 18 to 24 hours) provides unique insights for hypersomnia (how long is the biological night?), non-24 sleep-wake phase disorder (is the biological night moving?), and irregular sleep-wake phase disorder (where is the biological night?).” As an expert in the field of sleep medicine, Salimetrics worked under the guidance of Dr. Thomas to modify their current DLMO test protocol and enable alternative sampling schedules to reveal these distinct phases of the circadian rhythm. Both the DLMOff and 24-hour Circadian Phase Map tests are now available for individuals and clinicians at https://biologyofsleep.com.
The Dim Light Melatonin Offset test, or DLMOff, starts immediately after an individual’s final awakening. In non-shifted individuals, Melatonin levels drop quickly after waking in preparation for the day’s normal routine. However, shifted individuals may have trouble staying asleep and suffer from early morning awakening or may experience extended periods of lethargy or somnolence after awakening, thereby reducing, or extending their biological night. These symptoms can also be attributed to both age-related changes, as well as poor sleep hygiene, which can also shift circadian alignment.
The 24-hour Circadian Phase Map test, or Biological Night Mapping, relies on collecting samples over a specific time period, which can be as short as 15 hours or as long as 24 hours. Sampling during a longer period can provide useful physiologic information to help assess an individual’s circadian timing and sleep function for complex issues where an individual may be suffering from irregular sleep disruptions or non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorders. A circadian rhythm disorder is generally present when the relationship between the timing and duration of sleep and the circadian rhythm is significantly altered. Thus, the “biological night” can be too long, too short, unstable (varying with time), or misaligned – all of which can cause clinical symptoms and are also targets for treatment.
“The key objective for Circadian Phase Testing is to establish a baseline and determine whether biology or behavior is driving an individual’s circadian rhythm disruption,” says Dr. Granger. “While we have enabled more flexibility in the sampling protocols and testing, we will continue to listen to the voice of the sleep medicine community and the patients themselves to incorporate feedback where possible, thereby increasing the ease and effectiveness of our sleep tests.”
Sleep health providers can Register Online to receive a unique provider referral ID number. Once issued, providers can immediately refer patients to https://biologyofsleep.com to order their home sleep assessment kit. Salimetrics’ trained representatives facilitate everything in-between until test results are sent to the Doctor and patient through a HIPAA Compliant results portal.
For more information, or to register as a provider, visit Salimetrics’ Biology of Sleep Website.
About Salimetrics
Salimetrics’ assay kits and CLIA-certified testing services are used to measure salivary analytes related to stress, behavior and development, inflammation, sleep, reproduction, health, and immune function. Founded in 1998 by Douglas A. Granger, Ph.D., Salimetrics, LLC supports CROs, pharmaceuticals, academic researchers, and the immunodiagnostic industry worldwide with innovative immunoassay products, non-invasive saliva collection methods, and laboratory testing services.
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