Access to 24 hr cortisol testing

[Portia1974]

Does anyone know if we can access 24hr cortisol (urine or saliva?) testing via our GP/NHS?

Or does anyone have views/knowledge of the accuracy or usefulness of this test (before I spend yet more ££'s):

medichecks.com/cortisol-tes...

TIA

xxx

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Portia1974

I don't know if the NHS will do 24 hour saliva or urine cortisol testing.

Please avoid any private test that does not include DHEA as well as cortisol and does not have proper reference ranges, avoid any with the bottom of the range as Zero.

Tests that include both cortisol and DHEA are

Regenerus (I use these and am very satisfied): thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/r...

Genova Diagnostics: thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/g...

You need to click on the link to the pdf and then look for test code END01 on page 5.

For both of these companies you need to use ThyroidUK as your "practioner" as they don't deal with the public direct. Regenerus email you when your results are available, Genova send results to ThyroidUK who then send them on to you when you have completed the consent form on their website.

If you would like to see how results are presented, with a graphic plotting your results and showing the natural "curve":

Regenerus: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...

Genova: gdx.net/uk/core-uk/sample-r...

I find it very useful to have the graphic as well as the actual numerical results.

[Hidden]

It depends on what you are wanting testing, is it for high cortisol or low cortisol? 24 hour urine is only useful for testing high levels of cortisol as the body only excretes cortisol when it is in excess. The 24 hour urine tests are frequently done testing for Cushing's disease or Cushing's syndrome, but again it is no for measuring low cortisol. The NHS only uses saliva tests again for seeing if cortisol is high at night, not all Endo departments use it either, it is no good for testing for low cortisol. If you are already on replacement steroids then many Endo units will do a day profile to see if you are on the correct amount of steroids throughout the day by taking regular blood tests.

[Portia1974 in reply to Hidden]

Ah ok. That's interesting. Thank you. It is high cortisol in the pm I predominantly want to know. I know from a few morning cortisol blood tests now that my am cortisol sits consistently low in range.

Appreciate the info. Thank you so much. Px

[LAHs in reply to Hidden]

Actually you need a complete profile of your cortisol which will tell you how it varies over your day. A lab called True Health Labs can do this, they operate in Britain. Basically you spit into a test tube 4 times a day (you get 4 test tubes). Send them all off in the package supplied and about 3 days later get your results emailed to you. Cortisol should be high in the morning - to get you up, it will go lower in the middle of the day, it will rise again about 4:00pm then drop in the evening - which will make you tired and therefore be able to sleep.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to LAHs]

I've just looked at True Health website and the adrenal test offered for UK residents is carried out by Genova Diagnostics and it is much cheaper for Portia1974 to order it through ThyroidUK with either Genova or Regenerus.

[LAHs in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's great, yes sometimes THLs offer Genova as their draw lab here too and it's much cheaper than their usual Quest draw lab. I had my toxic metals test via Genova and it was amazingly reasonably priced.

[Portia1974 in reply to LAHs]

That's good and handy to know as heavy metals is an area I may be investigating shortly too. Thank you!

[Portia1974 in reply to LAHs]

Hi LAHs yes aware of all that thank you. It was more the usefulness and accuracy of the test I was asking about. I understand what it's for and how its performed. But thank you

[LAHs in reply to Portia1974]

You can ask the lab who does your test for their margin of error because they vary from lab to lab. Regarding the test's usefulness, regardless of it's %error it is useful to know your " high cortisol in the pm" relative to your diurnal profile. eg, it is usually lower than your morning high.

[Portia1974 in reply to LAHs]

Thank you. Yes I realise that's something I need to know. I understand when cortisol needs to be high vs low, which is exactly why I'm looking at testing. I'm not asking about what my levels should be or why its important to know them. I know that part.

I was asking if anyone had knowledge/experience about the usefulness/accuracy of a SPECIFIC Medichecks kit that I linked to in the original post as I was thinking of buying it. It's been answered now. But thank you.

[Lalatoot]

I have had 24hr urine test on NHS. It was requested by NHS endo.

[Portia1974 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you

[Pascha1 in reply to Portia1974]

Ive just had 2 24hr urine tests from NHS GP but think more for cushings as ranges just say below 165 Nmol

[SilverAvocado]

The 24 hour saliva cortisol test, which is primarily a measure of what you might call adrenal fatigue (also known by many other names).Not only does the NHS not do the test, but they don't accept the results or believe in it in any way. Unless you have Addisons or Cushings disease, we are on our own treating the adrenals.

[Portia1974 in reply to SilverAvocado]

Yeah I know. Crap right? I saw a quote somewhere from an actual doctor saying "we deal with death and disease not health and well being". We're on our own when it comes to health and well being. But they will try and stop us from dying . Yay.

[SilverAvocado in reply to Portia1974]

Yes, I think that's a very good point. They are there to help if our leg is hanging off, but in terms of getting a good quality of life they don't care

The commenter above was mentioning a 24 hour urine test, but as far as I know that is a completely different thing from the 24hr saliva cortisol test.

[Portia1974 in reply to SilverAvocado]

Although commenter before you did get one from NHS endo.