Salivary Cortisol, 2 Samples
Late-night cortisol that loses its normal dip is the first clue to Cushing syndrome.
Consider this test if:
- Weight gain, easy bruising, purple stretch marks, high blood pressure, or muscle weakness suggesting cortisol excess
- Screening for endogenous Cushing syndrome with a convenient at-home sample
- Monitoring for recurrence of Cushing disease after pituitary surgery
- Tracking treatment response during medical therapy for Cushing disease
- Suspected cyclic Cushing syndrome requiring multiple samples 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 late at night, usually around 11 pm or when instructed, since the test depends on cortisol being at its low point. Do not eat, drink, or brush your teeth shortly before collecting, and avoid foods or supplements with licorice. Keep a normal day-night routine in the days before testing; this test is not valid for shift workers or anyone without a regular sleep-wake cycle. Use both Salivette devices as directed and keep samples refrigerated until return.
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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 at two collection points, typically late at night, when a healthy level should be at its nadir. The main use is screening for endogenous Cushing syndrome, since people with it lose that late-night low, and two or more elevated late-night results help confirm it. Saliva is easy to collect at home over multiple nights, which makes it well suited to catching cyclic Cushing syndrome and to monitoring for recurrence after pituitary surgery or during medical therapy. Levels can also be raised by obesity, heavy alcohol use, depression and other psychiatric conditions, and PCOS, so results are read against your clinical history.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 2 biomarkers
- Measures
- Date
- Measures
- Date/time
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 — 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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