Cortisol, Free




Test Mnemonic

FRCORT

CPT Codes

  • 82530 - QTY (1)

LOINC ®

2145-1

Aliases

  • Cortisol, Free by Equilibrium Dialysis/LC-MS/MS
  • Hydrocortisone, Free

Includes

  • Free Cortisol Serum

Performing Laboratory

ARUP


Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLSerumSST (Gold) FrozenRecommended collection times are 8 - 10 a.m. or 4 - 6 p.m. Remove serum from cells and freeze within 2 hours of collection.

Alternate Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
1 mLPlasmaEDTA (Lavender) FrozenRecommended collection times are 8 - 10 a.m. or 4 - 6 p.m. Remove plasma from cells and freeze within 2 hours of collection.
1 mLSerumNo additive (Red) FrozenRecommended collection times are 8 - 10 a.m. or 4 - 6 p.m. Remove serum from cells and freeze within 2 hours of collection.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Volume Type Container Collect Temperature Transport Temperature Special Instructions
0.6 mL     

Stability

Environmental Condition Description
AmbientAfter separation from cells: Unacceptable
RefrigeratedAfter separation from cells: 1 week
FrozenAfter separation from cells: 6 months

Days Performed

Sun, Tue, Thu, Fri

Turnaround Time

3 - 6 days

Methodology

Name Description
Equilibrium Dialysis 
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) 

Reference Range

Cortisol, Free
Sex Age From Age To Type Range Range Unit
 18 Years99 YearsNormal8:00-10:00 am: 0.21 - 1.04ug/dL
 18 Years99 YearsNormal4:00- 6:00 pm: 0.10 - 0.63ug/dL
   Years17 YearsNormalNot established 

Special Info

Indicate time of draw on test request form and specimen tube. Grossly hemolyzed, icteric, lipemic or heparinized specimens are unacceptable. This test is New York DOH approved.

Clinical Info

Screen, diagnose, and monitor diseases associated with excess or deficient cortisol production. To convert to nmol/L, multiply ug/dL by 27.6.