Ordering Recommendation
Rule out Cushing syndrome. Screen for thymic and bronchial carcinoid tumors.
Mnemonic
Methodology
Quantitative Enzyme Immunoassay
Performed
Mon, Wed, Fri
Reported
1-4 days
New York DOH Approval Status
Specimen Required
Do not collect specimen within 60 minutes after eating a meal, within 12 hours after consuming alcohol, immediately after brushing teeth or after any activity that may cause gums to bleed. Rinse mouth thoroughly with water 10 minutes before specimen collection. Recommended collection time is between 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Saliva. Swab must be completely saturated to ensure sufficient volume for testing.
Transfer saturated swab to plain (non-citric acid) cotton Salivette® collection device (ARUP Supply #52056). Record the time of collection on the test request form, and on Salivette® transport container.
Refrigerated.
Specimens not collected using the Salivette® collection device. Sodium azide preservative. Specimens with pH values greater than 9.0 or less than 3.5 must be recollected. Specimens visibly contaminated with blood, cellular debris, food particles, or mucus.
Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: 3 weeks; Frozen: 6 months
Reference Interval
By report
Interpretive Data
For a collection at 2300 hr, the normal cortisol concentration is less than 0.112 µg/dL. Patients with Cushing's Syndrome have concentrations of 0.112 µg/dL or greater.
FDA
Note
Bovine hormones normally present in dairy products can cross-react with anti-cortisol antibodies and cause false results. Acidic or high sugar foods can compromise assay performance by lowering sample pH and influencing bacterial growth. Samples with pH values greater than 9.0 or less than 3.5 must be recollected.
Hotline History
CPT Codes
82533
Components
Component Test Code* | Component Chart Name | LOINC |
---|---|---|
0081118 | Cortisol, Saliva | 2142-8 |
Aliases
- Free Cortisol
- Nighttime Salivary Cortisol
- Salivary Cortisol
- Salivary Cushings
- Salivary Hydrocortisone