Cortisol, 3 Specimens
Your primary stress and adrenal hormone, measured across the day to see its natural rhythm.
Consider this test if:
- Symptoms of high cortisol such as central weight gain, easy bruising, high blood pressure, or thinning skin
- Fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, or salt craving suggesting low adrenal output
- Investigating whether your cortisol follows a normal daily rhythm rather than checking one point
- Following up an abnormal single cortisol with timed measurements
- 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 most important variable: each specimen must be drawn at its designated time of day, since cortisol normally peaks in the morning and drops by evening. Note recent corticosteroid use (including creams, inhalers, and joint injections), as it can suppress measured cortisol. Acute illness, poor sleep, intense exercise, and significant stress near the draw can raise levels. Estrogen, including oral contraceptives and pregnancy, can also raise total cortisol.
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What this test is for
Cortisol is the main glucocorticoid hormone from the adrenal glands, and it follows a strong daily rhythm: high in the morning, falling through the day to a nighttime low. This version measures cortisol in three separate serum draws, which captures that pattern rather than a single point in time. Persistently high cortisol points toward Cushing's syndrome and is investigated alongside symptoms like central weight gain, easy bruising, high blood pressure, and muscle weakness; low cortisol points toward adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease), linked to fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, and salt craving.
A single cortisol level is hard to interpret because the timing dominates the number, so a timed series is more useful when the question is whether the rhythm itself is intact. For the more specific question of whether the adrenal glands respond to stimulation, the separate ACTH Stimulation Test is the right test, and the Cortisol, Saliva option is used when a non-blood nighttime sample is preferred.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 2 biomarkers
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Date/time
What you'll learn
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Insights that connect the dots. A clinician reads your whole picture, not one result in isolation, connecting family history, past results, and lifestyle into clear next steps.
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Your personalized action plan. Nutrition, supplements, and training in one clinician-reviewed protocol, updated as your results change.
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Track your trends. Upload results from any lab and see each biomarker trend over time, so you know what is working.
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Never miss a recheck. Mito tells you what is worth retesting and when, then reminds you so nothing slips.
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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Without membership
$0
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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. It is never a profit on the test itself. Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9 per month, and any applicable lab order or draw fee is itemized before you pay.
Where do I get tested?
Choose an available partner lab at checkout. If your cart contains multiple blood tests, Mito helps consolidate the eligible tests at one lab when possible. At-home kits and scans follow the collection or appointment process shown on their product page.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. Eligible tests can be paid for with an HSA or FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results appear in your Mito dashboard after the laboratory completes processing. A clinician then reviews them before your analysis and personalized action plan are finalized. Timing varies by test, and specialty assays and at-home kits may take longer.
Do I need a physician's order?
No. Mito provides the laboratory order when one is required, so you do not need to arrange a separate physician visit before purchasing.
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