Cortisol, Saliva
Captures the late-night cortisol dip that disappears in Cushing syndrome.
Consider this test if:
- Unexplained weight gain, easy bruising, purple stretch marks, muscle weakness, or high blood pressure raising concern for Cushing syndrome
- Your clinician wants to confirm hypercortisolism with more than one late-night sample
- Monitoring for recurrence of Cushing disease after pituitary surgery or during medical therapy
- Evaluating suspected cyclic cortisol excess that needs several specimens over time
- 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 whole point: collect the sample late at night, typically between 11 pm and midnight, to capture the circadian low. Do not eat, brush your teeth, or use tobacco shortly before collecting, since blood or contaminants in the mouth can distort the result. Keep a consistent sleep schedule, as shift work or disrupted day-night cycles make the test unreliable. Note any steroid medications, including creams and inhalers, which can affect cortisol.
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 follows a circadian rhythm: it peaks in the morning and falls to its lowest point late at night. This test measures cortisol in saliva, and a late-night sample is the key application, because people with Cushing syndrome lose that nighttime low and stay elevated. An elevated late-night salivary cortisol is early evidence of endogenous hypercortisolism, and two or more positive results help confirm it once benign causes are excluded. Levels can also be raised by obesity, heavy alcohol use, depression and other psychiatric conditions, and PCOS, so results are read against your clinical picture.
This is the saliva form, valued because it is easy to collect at home and at the exact late-night timepoint, which makes it practical for repeat sampling over time, including for cyclic disease and for monitoring after treatment. The serum and 24-hour urinary free cortisol tests answer related questions through blood and urine and are chosen based on the clinical scenario.
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…