ACTH

This test measures the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in a sample of your blood. A hormone is a chemical messenger in your bloodstream that controls the actions of certain cells or organs. ACTH tells your adrenal glands, two small glands that sit above your kidneys, to make another hormone called cortisol.

An ACTH test is used to help diagnose and monitor conditions that affect cortisol levels. These conditions include disorders of the pituitary and adrenal glands.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

3 published ranges, each from a named source

7.263.3 pg/mL drawn: all ages · ARUP Laboratories Test Directory

Normal: 7.2–63.3 pg/mL (varies by lab)ARUP 7.2–63.3 · Mayo 7.2–63 pg/mL

Ranges from ARUP Laboratories Test Directory, Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog).

All source ranges (3)

Source	Sex	Age	Range
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges)	All	all ages	10–60 pg/mL
ARUP Laboratories Test Directory	All	all ages	7.2–63.3 pg/mL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog)	All	all ages	7.2–63 pg/mL

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result: Increased circulating ACTH level
A low result: Decreased circulating ACTH concentration

Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.

details

Sample: Serum or plasma · LOINC
Listed under: Addison Disease · Adrenal Gland Cancer · Cushing's Syndrome · Hormones · Pituitary Disorders · Pituitary Tumors
Code: LOINC 2141-0 · pg/mL
Also known as: Corticotropin, ACTH, Cortrosyn, Tumor marker

See your own ACTH Add a lab report and it is drawn against your lab's range, over time. Upload a Blood Test