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.
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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.
- Specimen
- Saliva
- Measures
- Mass concentration
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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