Cortisol, Total, LC/MS

Test Code

CORTL

Alias/See Also

LAB3045

CPT Codes
<p>82533</p>

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Serum

Collection Container/Type: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Additional Information: Specify time of day specimen was collected.

Specimen Type: Plasma

Collection Container/Type: Lavender top (EDTA)

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Additional Information: Specify time of day specimen was collected.

Minimum Volume

0.2 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Plasma collected in: EDTA (lavender-top) tube

Instructions

Specify time of day specimen was collected

Transport Temperature

Room temperature

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 14 days

Refrigerated: 21 days

Frozen: 1 year

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Gross hemolysis • Received room temperature • Serum separator tubes (SST)

Methodology

Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

FDA Status
This test was developed and its analytical performance characteristics have been determined by Quest Diagnostics. It has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This assay has been validated pursuant to the CLIA regulations and is used for clinical purposes.

Setup Schedule

Set up: Mon-Fri; Report available: 3-7 days

Report Available

3-7 days

Reference Range

Adult
8:00 - 10:00 AM	4.6-20.6 mcg/dL
4:00 - 6:00 PM	1.8-13.6 mcg/dL

Cortisol Response to ACTH
Peak	>20.0 mcg/dL
Peak	>16.0 mcg/dL after IM injection

Pediatric

Age	mcg/dL
Infants
Premature (31-35 weeks)**	≤15.0
Term, 3 days old**	≤14.0
<30 days	Not established
1-11 months	1.4-24.0
1 year	1.7-25.4
2 years	1.8-26.4
3 years	2.0-27.0
4 years	2.0-27.2
5 years	2.0-27.3
6 years	2.0-27.2
7 years	2.0-27.1
8 years	2.0-27.0
9 years	1.9-26.8
10 years	1.9-26.4
11 years	1.8-26.1
12 years	1.8-26.0
13 years	1.8-26.1
14 years	1.9-26.6
15 years	2.1-27.5
16 years	2.3-28.6
17 years	2.6-29.8

Pediatric lower reference values are reflective of both AM and early PM sampling
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

ACTH Stimulation**	Baseline (mcg/dL)	60 Minutes (mcg/dL)
1-12 Months	3.0-23.0	32.0-60.0
1-5 Years	6.0-25.0	22.0-40.0
6-12 Years	3.0-15.0	17.0-28.0

**Pediatric data from J Clin Endocrinol Metab
(1991) 73:674-686 and J Clin Endocrinol Metab
(1989) 69:1133-1136.

Clinical Significance

Total cortisol concentrations are decreased in Addison's Disease and increased in Cushing's Disease and in other conditions of glucocorticoid excess.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042

Last Updated: February 17, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.