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Test Code N.CORTISOL CORTISOL 

Important Note

Sample collected in sodium heparin tubes may give slightly lower values.

Steroids may cause elevated Cortisol values due to cross reactivity.

Additional Codes

COR

Methodology

Automated Chemistry Analyzer (ALINITY)

Specimen Requirements

Specimen Type: Serum or Plasma 
Container/Tube: SST or Lithium Heparin (preferred), EDTA (acceptable)
Specimen Volume: 1 mL (minimum 0.5) 
Collection Instructions:  

  1. Allow specimen to clot completely if a serum tube (SST) was used. 

  1. Separate serum (SST) or plasma (Lithium Heparin) from cells within 24 hours and transport refrigerated. If red top tube is collected, separate serum from cells within 2 hours and place in separate plastic tube. 

  1. Properly label tube with patient's name, DOB, requisition number and type of tube, i.e. LiHep or NaHep etc.  

Specimen Transport/Stability

Refrigerated: 8 hours on gel, 6 days poured off

Specimen Rejection

1. Exceeding stability requirements

2. Hemolysis

3. Unlabeled/mislabeled specimen

Maximum Laboratory Time

24 - 48 hours

Reference Ranges

Reference ranges for Cortisol are dependent on the time of draw.

Cortisol                        mcg/dL
Cortisol AM (Before 1000)                      3.7 - 19.4
Cortisol PM (After 1700)                      2.9 - 17.3

Steriods may cause artificially elevated Cortisol values due to cross reactivity.

 

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82533