Lab test · Endocrinology
Cortisol (Morning)
Stress hormone, adrenal function
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Stress hormone, adrenal function
This test measures cortisol, a hormone made by the adrenal glands. Cortisol helps control blood sugar, blood pressure, the body's response to stress and inflammation, and the sleep-wake cycle. Its level is highest in the early morning and lowest around midnight, so a morning sample is used to check whether the adrenal glands are making enough.
Why a doctor may order it
- Ongoing tiredness, weakness, weight loss, dizziness or low blood pressure that could suggest the adrenal glands are underactive
- Low blood sugar or low sodium without a clear cause
- After long-term use of steroid medicines, to check the body's own cortisol production
- To look into a possible pituitary gland problem
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
You do not need to fast. The sample should be taken early in the morning, around eight to nine o'clock, so book an early collection slot. If you use any steroid medicines, including tablets, inhalers, creams or injections, tell your doctor before the test and do not stop them without advice. Oestrogen-containing contraceptive pills can also raise the measured level.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- Book the earliest morning slot available so the collector can take the sample at the right time. A small blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm, and the time of collection is noted, as it matters for the result.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
Cortisol is reported with a morning reference range. A low morning cortisol can suggest the adrenal glands, or the pituitary gland that controls them, are not making enough, and further tests are usually needed to confirm this. A high morning level can follow stress, illness, poor sleep or some medicines and does not on its own diagnose excess cortisol. Your doctor will interpret the result with the time of the sample and your symptoms.
What's included
One test: Cortisol (Morning), from one blood sample.
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Questions people ask
Why must the cortisol sample be taken in the morning?
Cortisol follows a daily rhythm, peaking in the early morning and falling through the day. The reference range is based on morning levels, so a sample taken later can look falsely low.
Can a morning cortisol test diagnose Cushing's syndrome?
Not on its own. A single morning cortisol is not a reliable way to detect too much cortisol. Doctors use special tests instead, such as a dexamethasone suppression test, a late-night saliva test or a 24-hour urine test.
Do steroid inhalers or creams affect cortisol?
They can. Steroid tablets, and sometimes inhalers, creams or injections, can lower the body's own cortisol production. Tell your doctor about all steroid use, and do not stop any steroid suddenly without medical advice.
Can stress affect a cortisol result?
Yes. Physical stress, illness and lack of sleep can raise cortisol. Try to rest well the night before, and tell your doctor if you were unwell on the day of the test.
How much does a Cortisol test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳550, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the Cortisol test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the Cortisol report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.