Cortisol, 2 Specimens
The adrenal stress hormone, sampled twice to capture its daily rise and fall.
Consider this test if:
- Unexplained fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, or salt craving suggesting adrenal insufficiency
- Weight gain, easy bruising, high blood pressure, or muscle weakness raising the question of cortisol excess
- Confirming whether your cortisol follows its expected drop from morning to later in the day
- Following up an abnormal single cortisol with paired timed measurements
- Tracking adrenal status while a clinician evaluates pituitary or adrenal function
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Results delivered to your dashboard · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Timing is the point of this test: both samples are drawn at specified times on the same day (commonly an early-morning draw and a second later draw) to capture the diurnal pattern. Cortisol is raised by acute physical or emotional stress, illness, and pregnancy, and is affected by steroid medications and some oral contraceptives, so note any of these. Shift work or disrupted sleep can blunt the normal rhythm, so consistent recent sleep helps interpretation.
Video consult with your Care Team
A 1:1 call to discuss your health.
What members say on Trustpilot
What this test is for
Cortisol is the primary glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal glands, governing blood sugar, blood pressure, metabolism, and the stress response. It normally follows a strong daily rhythm: high in the early morning and falling to a low point at night, so a single reading can mislead without timing context. This two-specimen version measures serum cortisol at two points in the same day (typically morning and later), which makes the pattern of decline visible rather than one isolated value. Persistently high cortisol points toward Cushing's syndrome and is linked to weight gain, high blood pressure, easy bruising, and muscle weakness, while low cortisol points toward adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), causing fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, and salt craving.
The single Cortisol, AM, and P.M. tests each capture one moment; this paired draw is built to compare two times in one collection. If the question is specifically whether the adrenals respond to stimulation, the ACTH Stimulation Test is the right protocol, and the saliva version is used for late-night sampling without a blood draw.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 2 biomarkers
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Date/time
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Fast, dashboard-delivered results
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
Everything your health needs,
in one membership
-
Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
-
Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
-
Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
All for $9/month
Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
Mito Membership
$9 /mo
cancel anytime
Without membership
$0
pay as you go
At-cost pricing on labs, scans, and more
Priority turnaround on your results
On-demand clinician consults when you need guidance
Personalized action plans across supplements, exercise, nutrition, and sleep
AI health coaching to help you act on your results
Year-round medical support, with in-chat clinician escalation
All your health records in one personal vault, with trends and biological age tracking
Early access to new diagnostics and product releases
More tests to consider
Loading essentials…
Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
Recently viewed
Loading essentials…