Adrenal Testing
FAQ
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What is Adrenal Testing?
An adrenal test measures cortisol and ACTH hormone levels in the patient’s blood. Cortisol is made by the adrenal glands, while ACTH is produced by the pituitary gland. These hormones help an individual manage stress, blood sugar and metabolism. Adrenal disease can have symptoms like:
- Exhaustion
- Weight gain or sudden weight loss
- Obesity
- Edema (fluid retention)
These hormone levels can be affected by:
- Physical and emotional stress
- Strenuous exercise
- Infections
- Injuries
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What does Adrenal Testing test for?
Adrenal Testing helps diagnose and monitor adrenocortical insufficiency and an overactive or underactive adrenal cortex function, which could be:
- Adrenal Addison's Disease
- Cushing’s Disease
- Acute Adrenal Insufficiency
- Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency.
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Who should get Adrenal Testing?
Testing your adrenal function is important if you suffer from any of the following conditions:
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Fibromyalgia
- Brain fog
- Memory impairment
- Depression, anxiety or mood swings
- Chronic pain, exhaustion or neuropathy
- Low libido (sex drive)
- Recurrent infections
Also, patients known to have Cushing’s Disease or Addison Disease will likely receive Adrenal tests on a semi-regular basis.
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Do I need to visit a doctor?
No doctor visit needed.
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How do I get my results?
You get your results via email as soon as they are available.
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Does my lab prescription expire?
Your lab prescription never expires.*
- Low prices since 2005
- Same day lab order by email
- Labs within 1 mile of 90% of the US
- Lab test prescriptions NEVER expire*
- Over 650 blood work labs to choose from
- Secure, encrypted & accurate testing
- Low prices since 2005
- Same day lab order by email
- Labs within 1 mile of 90% of the US
- Lab test prescriptions NEVER expire*
- Over 4000 blood work locations + 650 different blood tests to choose from
- Secure, encrypted & accurate testing
Cortisol, AM (Quest Diagnostics) Same day lab order delivery
Causes of low cortisol include pituitary destruction or failure, with resultant loss of ACTH to stimulate the adrenal, and metabolic errors or destruction of the adrenal gland itself (adrenogenital syndromes, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis). The diagnosis of hypoadrenalism generally requires confirmation with ACTH stimulation, due to the circadian rhythms of cortisol and other factors. Causes of increased cortisol, which may present initially simply as loss of normal diurnal variation, include pituitary overproduction of ACTH, production of ACTH by a tumor (notably oat cell cancers), and adrenal adenomas.
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Cortisol, Total (Quest Diagnostics) Same day lab order delivery
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) (Quest Diagnostics) Same day lab order delivery
Alternative Name(s): ACTH
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), Unconjugated, LC/MS/MS (Quest Diagnostics) Same day lab order delivery
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 4 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Adrenal Fatigue Basic Profile (Quest Diagnostics) Same day lab order delivery
Cortisol, AM
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Adrenal Fatigue Advanced Profile (Quest Diagnostics) Same day lab order delivery
Comprehensive Metabolic Profile ( includes eGFR ): Albumin, Albumin/Globulin Ratio (calculated), Alkaline Phosphatase, ALT, AST, BUN/Creatinine Ratio (calculated), Calcium, Carbon Dioxide, Chloride, Creatinine with GFR Estimated, Globulin (calculated), Glucose, Potassium, Sodium, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein, Urea Nitrogen
Cortisol, AM
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA-s) Sulfate
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), Unconjugated, LC/MS/MS
Estimated turnaround for results is 5 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Cortisol, AM (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Causes of low cortisol include pituitary destruction or failure, with resultant loss of ACTH to stimulate the adrenal, and metabolic errors or destruction of the adrenal gland itself (adrenogenital syndromes, tuberculosis, histoplasmosis). The diagnosis of hypoadrenalism generally requires confirmation with ACTH stimulation, due to the circadian rhythms of cortisol and other factors. Causes of increased cortisol, which may present initially simply as loss of normal diurnal variation, include pituitary overproduction of ACTH, production of ACTH by a tumor (notably oat cell cancers), and adrenal adenomas.
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Cortisol, Serum (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Estimated turnaround for results is 1 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate (DHEA-s) (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Work up women with infertility, amenorrhea, or hirsutism to identify the source of excessive androgen; aid in the evaluation of androgen excess (hirsutism and/or virilization), including Stein-Leventhal syndrome and adrenocortical diseases, including congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal tumor. DHEA-S is not increased with hypopituitarism. It is low in Addison disease. DHEA levels reach their peak in the early morning hours. DHEAS levels show no variation. Measurement of DHEAS is preferable to DHEA, as levels are more stable.
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
DHEA-S ; DHEA-SO4 ; DHEA Sulfate
No fasting required.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Adrenal Fatigue Basic Profile (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Cortisol, AM
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
Adrenal Fatigue Advanced Profile (LabCorp) Same day lab order delivery
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), Plasma
Comprehensive Metabolic Profile ( includes eGFR ):A:G ratio; albumin, serum; alkaline phosphatase, serum; ALT (SGPT); AST (SGOT); bilirubin, total; BUN; BUN:creatinine ratio; calcium, serum; carbon dioxide, total; chloride, serum; creatinine, serum; globulin, total; glucose, serum; potassium, serum; protein, total, serum; sodium, serum; eGFR
Cortisol, AM
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Sulfate
Estimated turnaround for results is 3 business days. If confirmation testing is required, the estimated time may be extended.
What is an Adrenal Test?
Adrenal tests are given to measure the level of hormones created by the adrenal and pituitary glands. Cortisol levels in particular rise when a patient’s pituitary gland releases another hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone, otherwise known as ACTH. These hormones perform many functions, including keeping a person’s glucose (sugar) and fat regulated in order for it to be used for energy (metabolism), and also helping an individual’s physiology to manage stress. These hormone levels can be affected by numerous conditions, including physical and emotional stress, strenuous exercise or other activities, infections, or injuries.
Who May Need an Adrenal Test?
Adrenal tests are typically performed for patients who are exhibiting issues with their pituitary or adrenal glands, such as making too much or too little of the related hormones for instance. Patients who have had problems with bone growth, blood pressure, the function of their immune system, metabolizing of necessary nutrients, nervous system function, and stress response are likely to have this test prescribed by their physician. Also, patients known to have Cushing Syndrome or Addison Disease will likely receive Adrenal tests on a semi-regular basis.
What Should I Expect from My Adrenal Test?
Adrenal tests begin by drawing a sample of blood from a patient in order for it to be analyzed by a medical laboratory. Patients are commonly asked to avoid strenuous physical activity prior to taking the test, and may even be asked to lie down 30 minutes before their blood is taken. There are also a number of medications which could affect the results of the test, such as steroids, so it’s important to speak with your physician about what medications you are currently taking preceding your test. Though there is a reference range for results common among Adrenal tests, some labs may have different ranges for you and your physician. Speak to your doctor regarding your results to get more information on how your results concern to you and your health specifically.