Cortisol, Afternoon
Your cortisol level in the afternoon, from one timed blood draw.
- 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
- Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
- Ordered by a licensed clinician
At a glance
- Collection
- Blood drawA standard blood draw at the lab.
- Preparation
- Afternoon drawBetween 3 and 5 p.m. The window sets the reference range.
- Results
- 1 to 3 daysTypical turnaround after your visit.
- Where
- 2,000+ lab locationsNationwide, with nothing due at the lab.
About this test
Cortisol is a hormone made by your adrenal glands. It follows a daily rhythm, usually highest in the early morning and lower later in the day. This test is drawn between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. and is often read next to a morning result to see that rhythm. It does not measure stress itself.
For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.
Who should take this test?
This test is often used by adults following up on a past cortisol result or looking at their daily cortisol rhythm, usually alongside a morning draw and with a clinician.
Ask about this test
Not sure this is the right test?
AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.
What does this test measure?
Your result shows your cortisol level in the afternoon window, which a healthcare provider can compare with a morning value to see how your daily rhythm looks.
- Cortisol, afternoon
- Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal glands that follows a daily rhythm, usually falling through the afternoon and evening. This test is drawn in a set afternoon window because the reference range depends on the time of collection.
- Why it’s measured: Measured in a set afternoon window, when cortisol usually runs lower.
How it works
- Step 1
Request online
A licensed clinician in your state reviews your request and, if appropriate, signs a lab order.
- Step 2
Visit between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Plan a visit to a lab location that is open in this window. The lab records the collection time, because the reference range is set for it.
- Step 3
Read it with a morning value
Afternoon cortisol is usually read next to a morning result. A healthcare provider can explain what the two mean together.
Find a lab near you
Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.
What your results tell you
Your cortisol is reported as a number and compared with the lab’s reference range for an afternoon draw between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Your number next to the lab’s reference range
- Explained in plain language
- A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
- A lab report you can download and share
A healthcare provider interprets cortisol results, often with a morning value and other tests, and decides whether any follow-up is needed.
Morning or afternoon cortisol?
Same hormone, two points in the daily rhythm.
Afternoon
Cortisol drawn between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Draw window
- 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Point in the rhythm
- The lower part of the day
- Often used
- With a morning value, to see the daily rhythm
Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.
From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.
CLIA-certified labs
Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.
We protect your health data
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Rigorous quality assurance
All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.
Clinician-reviewed reports
Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.
Related tests
Questions
Common questions.
Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.
Cortisol follows a daily rhythm. It is usually highest in the early morning and falls through the day. The lab’s reference range for this test is set for a draw between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., so a sample taken outside that window can be hard to read.
The lab notes the collection time on your sample for the same reason.
Yes. Prednisone and prednisolone can cross-react with this test, so the lab does not recommend it for people taking them. Other steroid medicines, including inhalers, creams, and shots, and estrogen-containing medicines such as birth control pills can also change cortisol levels.
Tell your healthcare provider about any of these. Don’t stop or change any medicine or supplement without talking with your healthcare provider.
No. Cortisol is often called a stress hormone, but one blood level does not measure how stressed you feel or how well you are coping. Levels change with the time of day and can be affected by sleep, illness, and some medicines.
A healthcare provider reads cortisol alongside your symptoms and other results.
One afternoon cortisol result is not enough to identify an adrenal condition. A healthcare provider evaluates those, often with other timed or specialized tests. This test also does not show how your cortisol changes from hour to hour, or how it compares with your morning level unless that is checked too.
Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.