Cortisol

[Alli1]

Hi

I had a blood test to measure Cortisol levels due to various symptoms.The blood was drawn at 1pm and the results came back reading 351 with no Ref Range.

Does anyone know if this result is good bad or indifferent?!

Would appreciate any feedback please

Thank You

Ali

[Snowstar]

I'm sure there will be plenty advice from others in the morning but my own experience is just a few weeks ahead of yours. My surgery receptionist called to make a follow-up date to re-test as my result was over the range. Perhaps you could call yours tomorrow to ask again for their range, I'm unsure if they differ from lab to lab but ours was 166 - 507. Don't know enough about this test but I understood it was best taken as an 8 - 9am fasting one?

Have you tried looking at the search corner top right?

[Hidden in reply to Snowstar]

If you are wondering if it could be Cushing's disease or syndrome & if you are on Facebook there is a group called Cushing's UK which can help you. You don't need to fast for the early morning blood cortisol test.

[Snowstar in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hidden , will check out the Facebook page. It's poss I've just presumed it had to be a fasting test, good to know.

[Heloise]

Hi Ali, a saliva test is better because it measures active saliva and shows how well your adrenals are producing cortisol throughout the day and evening. Much more important.

[Alli1 in reply to Heloise]

Thank you, yes I understand that but the medics won’t do a saliva test nor recognise it so unfortunately hands are tied when they only work in this way

[G2G2]

Cortisol is higher in the afternoon than in the evening. As Heloise said, the gold standard for testing is saliva testing done 4x in a day.

[purple64]

Mine was 345 borderline with cut off point at 350. Having a short synacthen test in a couple of weeks

[Hidden]

I took a private 24 hour saliva test which takes into account your readings over the day.

I am sorry cannot answer you question without the ranges.

[Nikkilps]

Hi, Cortisol levels are expected to be at the top of the range in the mornings around 8 am in the UK the range usually tops out at 545 or just over 600 according to the lab test used so please don’t worry! Yours looks fine for that time of day, I recently went through a battery of tests with a superb endocrinologist at Imperial college in London for cortisol primarily - you should be fine - just keep in mind that the level is highest in the morning and then drops down as the day goes on to reach its lowest level last thing at night. Hope this helps!

Nikki

[Alli1 in reply to Nikkilps]

Thank You Glad you found a good Endo ...gold dust!

[MaisieGray]

Rather than guessing what the range might be, the best thing to do is phone the clinic where you had it tested, and ask, or you could go online to see if it details the test parameters there. For instance, I just looked at SouthTees Hospital Trust for Cortisol Test, and it says

Cortisol Resting Value

(9:00 – 10:00): 119 – 618 nmol/L

Midnight Value: 85 – 459 nmol/L

[Alli1 in reply to MaisieGray]

Thank you good idea

[annnsandell]

I have a Cortisol reference range 6am to 10am 172-497nmol/L. Check lab, have they commented at all?

[Alli1 in reply to annnsandell]

Not yet but will do thanks

[anonymous45]

To back up what others have said, at 1PM the cortisol serum level will normally be lower than at 7-9AM. The average healthy person usually falls in the 400-600 nmol/L (at 7-9AM), although lab ranges are more likely to be 180-620.

Your cortisol level at 1PM would likely be in the 400-600 range at 8AM (standard cortisol blood test time); which would most likely exclude Addison's (primary adrenal insufficiency).

Therefore I believe your cortisol peak level is normal. Thyroid and Pituitary hormones, as well as Diabetes should also be considered alongside Cortisol when treating the broad range of symptoms associated with endocrine disease.

[Hidden]

Although the reference range is 180-600 that range is for the whole day as cortisol levels vary throughout the day being the highest first thing in the morning. Here is a link to show what a normal person's cortisol is throughout the day, look on the 2nd page. Yours is slightly on the high side so it is important to have a blood test done between 8-9am to see what it is then. You don't need to fast for the test. What other symptoms do you have? High cortisol can mean Cushing's disease or syndrome. If you are wondering if it maybe then there is a group on FB called Cushing's UK where you will get some more help.