Plasma cortisol test measures cortisol levels in the blood, which can help diagnose and manage conditions related to the adrenal gland. Patients may need to fast and stop taking certain medications before the test. Results can indicate conditions such as Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, or adrenal insufficiency. Further tests or treatment may be necessary depending on the results. Patients should ask their doctors for more information about the test and their condition.
Plasma cortisol is a laboratory test used to determine levels of the hormone cortisol in the blood. Cortisol levels can provide important information about a patient’s health and can be used in the diagnosis and management of a number of conditions, most related to the adrenal gland, the site where cortisol is produced. In a plasma cortisol test, blood is drawn from a patient and analyzed in a laboratory. Multiple samples may be requested.
In healthy individuals, the adrenal gland produces cortisol to help with a number of metabolic functions. Levels of this hormone in the body fluctuate throughout the day, with afternoon levels typically about half those in the morning. If levels are unusually high or low, it can be an indicator that a patient has a condition such as Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, or adrenal insufficiency. Elevated levels can also be an indicator of stress, as cortisol tends to rise in response to stress.
Before a plasma cortisol test, patients may be advised to eat and exercise normally, fasting for about 12 hours before the blood sample is drawn. If possible, patients should stop taking medications that could affect cortisol levels for two days before the test. If doing so puts the patient’s health at risk because those drugs are necessary for survival, the patient can continue to use them and a note will be made so that lab technicians are aware of the potential for skewed results.
A common procedure involves taking a sample in the morning and another in the evening. Plasma cortisol levels will be compared to both determine if they are within normal ranges and to see if they decrease throughout the day, as expected. This is an outpatient procedure, with patients walking away after blood is drawn. Depending on the results, further tests may be requested or a doctor may discuss options for managing abnormal plasma cortisol levels.
When this test is recommended, patients may want to ask their doctors why and get more information about how plasma cortisol is relevant to their diagnosis and treatment. This test is applied in a number of ways, and being aware of what the doctor is looking for can help patients better prepare. It is also important to look into any symptoms currently experienced, as they can provide important clues about the nature of a patient’s condition.
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