Cortisol urine test

A 24-hour urine sample is needed. You will need to collect your urine over 24 hours in a container provided by the laboratory. Your health care provider will tell you how to do this. Follow instructions exactly. Because cortisol production by the adrenal gland can vary, the test may need to be done three or more…

You may be asked not to do any vigorous exercise the day before the test. You may also be told to temporarily stop taking medicines that can affect the test, including: Anti-seizure medicines Estrogen Human-made (synthetic) glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone, prednisone, and prednisolone Androgens

The test involves only normal urination. There is no discomfort.

The test is done to check for increased or decreased cortisol production. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid (steroid) hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone ( ACTH ). This is a hormone released from the pituitary gland in the brain. Cortisol affects many different body systems.…

Normal range is less than 45 mcg/24 hours (124 nmol/24 hours) for women and less than 60 mcg/24 hours (165 nmol/24 hours). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific…

A higher than normal level may indicate: Cushing disease , in which the pituitary gland makes too much ACTH because of excess growth of the pituitary gland or a tumor in the pituitary gland Ectopic Cushing syndrome , in which a tumor outside the pituitary or adrenal glands makes too much ACTH Severe depression Tumor…

There are no risks with this test.

Guber HA, Oprea M, Russell YX. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods . 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25. Newell-Price JDC, Auchus RJ. The adrenal cortex. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen…