How to Use Sensa
Getting a clear inflammation reading takes less than 5 minutes. Follow these steps to get the best results every time.
What You'll Need
Your Sensa Vial
The Sensa test vial included in your kit. Make sure it hasn't been opened yet.
Your Smartphone
iPhone or Android. The Sensa app runs right in your browser, no download needed. Open it at the link below.
Good Lighting
Natural light or a bright indoor light. The camera needs to read the vial color clearly.
Before You Test
For the most consistent results, follow these preparation guidelines in the hour before your test.
No caffeine
Avoid coffee, tea, energy drinks, or any caffeinated beverage. Caffeine affects inflammatory markers and takes approximately 5–6 hours to metabolize.
No alcohol
Avoid alcohol at least 3 hours before testing. Alcohol is eliminated at approximately 15–18 mg/dL per hour and can affect your results.
No food or snacks
Avoid eating for at least one hour before collecting your sample.
No teeth brushing
Do not brush your teeth in the hour before testing, as this can introduce debris or blood into the sample.
No exercise
Avoid physical exercise for at least one hour before testing. Exercise has been shown to temporarily increase salivary inflammation markers.
These guidelines ensure your CRP reading reflects your body's true baseline inflammation, not temporary spikes from food, drink, or activity.
How to Take Your Test
Open the Sensa App
Open the Sensa app in your phone's browser at app.sensawellness.org. Sign in or create your free account. Tap Scan Now on the home screen.
Make sure your phone battery is above 20% and your camera lens is clean.
Prepare Your Vial
Remove your Sensa vial from its sealed packaging. Do not shake or squeeze the vial. Hold it upright by the sides and avoid touching the bottom where the reagent is.
Collect Your Sample
Follow the instructions included in your kit to introduce your saliva sample into the vial. Seal the vial and hold it upright for 60 seconds while the reagent activates.
Position in the App
In the Sensa app, tap Scan Now. Hold your vial steady within the camera frame. The app will show you exactly where to position it. Keep your hand still.
Three things that make or break the photo: clear, even lighting with no shadows across the vial; a plain background, such as a white sheet of paper; and no reflections on the glass, so tilt the vial away from windows and lamps.
Use a white background or flat surface behind the vial for the cleanest color reading.
Scan
Tap the scan button. The app's camera will read the color result your vial has developed and log your wellness score. This takes just a few seconds.
View Your Results
Your wellness score will appear on screen immediately. The app will save your result to your history and generate a personalized wellness plan based on your scan.
Understanding Your Results
Your Sensa reading gives you two key pieces of information:
Your Result
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely studied marker of systemic inflammation. The Sensa test kit reacts to your saliva sample to develop its color result; the app simply reads that result and turns it into a wellness score.
| Result | What it means |
|---|---|
| In range | Your reading is in the range typical for general wellness use. Keep doing what works. |
| Worth watching | Your reading is a little higher than typical. Look at sleep, stress, food, and recovery, then retest. |
| Time to reset | Your reading is higher than typical. Focus on rest and healthy habits, retest in a few weeks, and talk with a healthcare professional if you feel unwell or are concerned. |
Wellness Score (0–100)
Your score is calculated from your kit's color result and gives you a simple number to track over time. Lower is better.
Track your score over time using the History tab in the Sensa app to see how your lifestyle choices affect your inflammation levels.
See the App →For Researchers & Healthcare Providers
If you are running a research study or using Sensa in a group or research setting, the following guidelines are recommended to ensure sample integrity and data reliability.
“We also urge researchers to have participants restrict food intake and teeth brushing at least one hour prior to sample collection to eliminate the potential for debris or blood in the sample. Caffeine and alcohol should also be avoided prior to collection. The half-life of caffeine is approximately 5–6 hours, and the ethanol elimination rate is between 15–18 mg/dL per hour. Therefore, we recommend researchers have participants restrict their caffeine and alcohol use for at least 3 hours before sample collection. Since exercise has been shown to increase levels of salivary markers of inflammation (Minetto et al., 2007; Minetto et al., 2005), we also recommend having participants avoid exercising for at least one hour prior the study procedure. Several previous studies have provided these or similar guidelines to their participants (e.g., Auer et al., 2018; Szabo et al., 2019).”
References
- Auer, B.J., et al. (2018). Salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol as markers of stress.
- Minetto, M.A., et al. (2005; 2007). Exercise-induced changes in salivary inflammatory markers.
- Szabo, Y.Z., et al. (2019). Pre-collection guidelines in salivary biomarker research.
For questions about research applications or bulk ordering for research studies, contact us at Info@sensawellness.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Start Tracking Your Inflammation?
Open the Sensa app, follow these steps, and get your first reading in under 5 minutes.