Cortisol Test

What is a cortisol test? Cortisol is a hormone that affects almost every organ and tissue in your body. It plays an important role in helping you to: Respond to stress Fight infection Regulate blood sugar Maintain blood pressure Regulate metabolism, the process of how your body uses food and energy Cortisol is made by your adrenal glands, two small glands located above the kidneys. A cortisol test measures the level of cortisol in your blood, urine, or saliva. Blood tests are the most common way of measuring cortisol. If your cortisol levels are too high or too low, it may mean you have a disorder of your adrenal glands. These disorders can be serious if not treated. Other names: urinary cortisol, salivary cortisol, free cortisol, dexamethasone suppression test, DST, ACTH stimulation test, blood cortisol, plasma cortisol, plasma What is it used for? A cortisol test is used to help diagnose disorders of the adrenal gland. These include Cushing's syndrome, a condition that