Cortisol in Blood

Free Cortisol Test, Hydrocortisone Test

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Having physical or emotional stress.
• Being pregnant. This can cause urine cortisol levels to be high.
• Having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
• Eating, drinking, or exercising before the test.
• Taking medicines, such as birth control pills, estrogen, amphetamines or corticosteroids.
• Having a radioactive scan within 1 week of a cortisol test.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: August 21, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
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