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Test Code CORT Cortisol

Important Note

This test may be affected by biotin interference. Patients on high dose biotin (5mg/day or more) should not have samples drawn until at least 24 hours after the last biotin administration.

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Specimen: Red Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Plasma/Li-Heparin Mint Green Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into a plastic tubes containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must then be sent refrigerated at 2-8oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours

Reference Values

Test

Age

Sex

Time

Reference Range

Cortisol

All

All

6-10 am

6.0-18.4 μg/mL

Coritsol

All

All

4-8 pm

2.7-10.5 μg/mL

 Note: Reference range Intervals is based on Roche Diagnostics' product literature.

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

82533

LOINC Codes

2143-6

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

24 hours

Refrigerated

4 days

Frozen

12 months

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

Cortisol

Clinical Indications

The cortisol status of a patient is used to diagnose the function or malfunction of the adrenal gland, the pituitary, and the hypothalamus. Thereby cortisol serum concentrations are used for monitoring of several diseases with an overproduction (e.g. Cushing's syndrome), or underproduction (e.g. Addison's disease) of cortisol and for the monitoring of several therapeutic approaches (e.g. dexamethasone suppression in Cushing's syndrome and hormone replacement therapy in Addison's disease).

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics)

Additional Information

  • Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
  • The time of sample collection must be taken into account when interpreting results due to the cortisol secretion circadian rhythm.
  • Pregnancy, contraceptives and estrogen therapy give rise to elevated cortisol concentrations. In samples from patients who have been treated with prednisolone, 6-α-Methylprednisolone or prednisone, falsely elevated concentrations of cortisol may be determined.
  • During metyrapon tests, 11-deoxycortisol levels are elevated.
  • Patients suffering from 21-hydroxylase deficiency exhibit elevated 21-deoxycortisol levels and this can also give rise to falsely elevated cortisol levels.
  • Severe stress can also give rise to elevated cortisol levels.
  • Reference ranges for Cortisol that is ordered as part of a specific stimulation/suppression protocol are specific to the protocol utilized by the ordering physician and are therefore subject to ordering physician's interpretation. If stimulation-test is required please order test code: CORS

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours

Testing Schedule:  24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Corticosteroids, Cortisol, Corticotropin-releasing hormone, CRH, Hydrocortisone

Last Review Date

8/19/2024

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