Cortisol
A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine (pee), or saliva (spit). Cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands, two small glands that sit above your kidneys. Hormones are chemical messengers in your bloodstream that control the actions of certain cells or organs. Cortisol affects almost every organ and tissue in your body.
Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
Normal range
- ≤ 1 y
- 2.6–23 ug/dL
- ≤ 13 y
- 2.2–13 ug/dL
- ≤ 16 y
- 3–17 ug/dL
- ≤ 18 y
- 3.8–19 ug/dL
- ≤ 3 mo
- 1.1–19 ug/dL
- 13 y – 17 y
- 4–56 ug/24 h
- 18 y+
- 3.5–45 ug/24 h
- 3 y – 8 y
- 1.4–20 ug/24 h
- 9 y – 12 y
- 2.6–37 ug/24 h
- Normal
- 2.3–11.9 ug/dL
- Normal
- 341–345
Ranges from LabCorp Test Directory, Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog).
All 15 source ranges
What an abnormal result can be associated with
- A high result
- Increased circulating cortisol level
- A low result
- Decreased circulating cortisol level
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
- Part of
- Bryan Johnson Blueprint
- Listed under
- Addison Disease · Adrenal Gland Cancer · Adrenal Gland Disorders · Cushing's Syndrome · Hormones
- Code
- LOINC 2143-6 · ug/dL
- Also known as
- Compound F, Cort, hydrocortisone, Coritsol