Cortisol, AM
Your morning peak of the body's main stress hormone, the standard timing for screening adrenal function.
Consider this test if:
- Persistent fatigue, weakness, unexplained weight loss, or lightheadedness on standing
- Weight gain around the trunk, easy bruising, high blood pressure, or muscle weakness suggesting cortisol excess
- Establishing a baseline before further adrenal workup or follow-up testing
- Tracking adrenal function while on steroid therapy or after stopping it
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1-2 days · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
Timing is the key variable: collect in the early morning, typically between 7 and 9 AM, when cortisol is at its daily peak. Fasting is not required. Acute illness, recent surgery, sleep disruption, intense exercise, and steroid medications (including inhaled, topical, and oral corticosteroids) all shift cortisol, so note any steroid use. Estrogen-containing contraceptives and pregnancy raise total cortisol by increasing its carrier protein.
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What this test is for
Cortisol is the adrenal hormone that regulates blood sugar, blood pressure, metabolism, and the body's response to stress, and it follows a daily rhythm that peaks in the early morning and falls overnight. This test measures cortisol in a morning blood sample, when the level should be at its natural high, which makes it the standard starting point for evaluating adrenal output. A low morning cortisol points toward adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) and fits a picture of fatigue, weakness, weight loss, low blood pressure, and salt craving; a high level points toward cortisol excess (Cushing's syndrome), often with weight gain, easy bruising, high blood pressure, and muscle weakness. Because cortisol swings through the day, the result is only meaningful when the draw time is known, which is why this test specifies an AM collection.
This is the morning serum measurement. The separate PM (trough) test checks the evening low, the saliva and 24-hour urinary free cortisol tests look at unbound hormone and total daily output, and the ACTH stimulation test measures how the adrenals respond to a challenge when screening results are borderline.
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 Typical results in 1-2 days
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.
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Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Order any test or consult without joining. For $9/month, members unlock member prices, trend tracking, and year-round clinician guidance.
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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 — 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.
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