Cortisol, Free and Total, LC/MS

Test Code

FCORT

Quest Code

37077

CPT Codes
82530, 82533

Preferred Specimen

2 mL serum collected in a red-top tube (no gel) and poured off into two separate transport tubes containing 1 mL in each tube

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL in each tube

Other Acceptable Specimens

Plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube and poured off into two separate transport tubes containing 1 mL in each tube

Instructions

Serum: Collect 2 mL and aliquot into two separate transport tubes, with 1 mL in each transport tube

Plasma: Collect 2 mL and aliquot into two separate transport tubes, with 1 mL in each transport tube

Transport Container

Two separate transport tubes

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated (cold packs)

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 48 hours
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 1 year

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

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

Methodology
Equilibrium Dialysis • Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Setup Schedule

Mon-fri

Report Available

5 days

Reference Range

See Laboratory Report

Clinical Significance

Free cortisol is useful in the detection of patients with Cushing's syndrome for whom free cortisol concentrations are elevated.

Performing Laboratory

Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute-San Juan Capistrano, CA

33608 Ortega Highway

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-2042

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.