Cortisol, Free, 24-Hour Urine
Measures total bioavailable cortisol over a full day, the main screen for cortisol excess.
Consider this test if:
- Signs of cortisol excess such as central weight gain, purple stretch marks, easy bruising, or new high blood pressure
- Screening for Cushing syndrome or following up an abnormal serum or salivary cortisol
- Monitoring for recurrence after treatment of Cushing disease
- Unexplained muscle weakness, thinning skin, or hard-to-control blood sugar
- 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
No fasting required. Collect all urine over a full 24-hour period in the provided container, kept refrigerated, since a missed or partial collection skews the result. Note any glucocorticoid use (oral, inhaled, or topical), and avoid licorice, which can affect cortisol metabolism. This test is not recommended if you have significant kidney impairment or high urine volume.
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A 1:1 call to discuss your health.
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What this test is for
Free cortisol in a 24-hour urine collection measures the cortisol your body excretes over an entire day, capturing the active, unbound hormone rather than the portion locked to binding proteins. Because it averages the natural circadian and hour-to-hour swings of cortisol, it is one of the preferred screens for Cushing syndrome, the state of chronic cortisol excess linked to central weight gain, easy bruising, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar. Two or more elevated results help establish the diagnosis once non-neoplastic causes are excluded, and the test is also used to watch for recurrence after treatment of Cushing disease. Levels can run high from obesity, heavy alcohol use, depression, and PCOS, so an elevated result is interpreted against clinical history, and the test is not reliable with impaired kidney function or high urine output.
This is the integrated, whole-day measure. A single serum cortisol shows one moment and depends on draw time, the AM and PM serum tests target the peak and trough, and late-night salivary cortisol checks the normal overnight dip; the urine collection is the right test when you want total daily exposure independent of binding proteins.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 4 biomarkers
- Specimen
- Urine
- Measures
- Volume
- Specimen
- Urine
- Measures
- Ratio
- Specimen
- Urine
- Measures
- Ratio
- Specimen
- Urine
- Measures
- Ratio
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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