Cortisol by LC-MS/MS

Alternate test name

Lab area

Clinical Biochemistry - Special

Method and equipment

LC-MS/MS

Expected turn-around time

14 days

Specimen type

500 uL Serum or Plasma

Specimen requirements

Collect 1mL whole blood, spin, separate and freeze (-20^oC)
Specimens collected on an SST tube should be separated within 90 minutes of receipt.
Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Storage and transportation

Frozen

Shipping information

The Hospital for Sick Children

Rapid Response Laboratory

555 University Avenue, Room 3642

Toronto, ON

Canada

M5G 1X8

Phone: 416-813-7200

Toll Free: 1-855-381-3212

Hours: 7 days/week, 24 hours/day

Background and clinical significance

Cortisol measurements are used as a direct monitor of adrenal status and an indirect measure of pituitary hyper or hypofunction. Elevated cortisol levels are associated with adrenal tumors, pituitary tumors or ectopic ACTH-producing tumors. Subnormal cortisol concentrations may indicate generalized adrenal hypofunction or a defect in the metabolic pathway for cortisol biosynthesis.

Please Note: Androstenedione,17 OH Progesterone, Testosterone by LC-MS/MS, Progesterone, 21 OH Progesterone, Corticosterone, Cortisol by LC-MS/MS and 11-Deoxycortisol are all tested together as part of a panel.