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Laboratory Medicine

Test catalogue

Cortisol, Serum

Test Name

Cortisol, Serum

Gold Tube Specimen Type / Requirements

Container Type = Gold (SST)

Minimum Testing Volume = 1mL Serum

Tube must fill to at least ½ or greater of its vacuum capacity

Specimen Handling

Collection Instructions: Collect am specimen morning cortisol to be as close to 8 am as possible, but collection between 6 am to 10 am is acceptable. Collect PM specimen as close to 16:00H as possible, but collection between 16:00-18:00H is acceptable..

Laboratory Staff Instructions: Let sample clot adequately at room temperature before centrifugation. Separate serum or plasma from cells within 2 hours of collection.

Stability: Cortisol is stable at room temperature for 1 week, refrigerated for 1 week and frozen at -15 to -20°C for 3 months.

Transportation: Transport at room temperature ASAP. Place on ice if time of collection to time sample get to lab exceeds 2hrs

Sample Rejection Criteria: Avoid Hemolysis and/or Non sufficient Quantity (Not Sufficient Quantity)

Required Documentation

Turnaround Time (TAT)

1 hour for Trauma / Stat - 2 hours for routine

Test Utilization

Reference Value

Adult:

AM: 193-690 nmol/L

PM: 83-303 nmol/L

Pediatric:

AM: 190-740 nmol/L

PM: 30-300 nmol/L

Test Code

CORT

Methodology

Competitive Immunoassay, Direct Chemiluminescence

Testing Location

SMH-Biochemistry

Other Information

Last Updated: March 28, 2023