Laboratory Medicine

Test Catalogue

Dexamethasone Suppression Tests
Test Name Dexamethasone Suppression Tests
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 sample in a gold top tube (SST). Serum cortisol is ordered when a patient is given dexamethasone. The test is looking for the patient's cortisol level in response to dexamethasone. 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, unlabeled and/or samples of non sufficient quantity.
Required Documentation
Turnaround Time (TAT) 1 hour for Trauma or 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: June 05, 2020

Dexamethasone Suppression Tests

Test Name

Dexamethasone Suppression Tests

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 sample in a gold top tube (SST). Serum cortisol is ordered when a patient is given dexamethasone. The test is looking for the patient's cortisol level in response to dexamethasone.

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, unlabeled and/or samples of non sufficient quantity.

Required Documentation

Turnaround Time (TAT)

1 hour for Trauma or 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: June 05, 2020