A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Cortisol, Morning

Your cortisol level near its morning peak, from one timed draw.

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  • 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 draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
Morning draw is best
Between 7 and 9 a.m., when cortisol peaks.
Results
1 to 3 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Your adrenal glands make cortisol, a hormone that helps manage blood sugar, blood pressure, and your body’s response to illness or strain. Levels peak in the early morning, and this test is drawn between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., near that peak. One level does not measure stress.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is often used by adults who want a first look at their cortisol level, or who are following up on a past result, usually as part of a broader check 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 near its morning peak, which a healthcare provider can read with your symptoms, an afternoon value, or other results.

Cortisol, morning
Cortisol is a hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, and the body’s response to stress. It follows a daily rhythm and is usually highest in the morning. This test is drawn in a set morning window because the reference range depends on the time.
Why it’s measured: Measured in a set morning window, when cortisol is usually highest.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Request online

    A licensed clinician in your state reviews your request and, if appropriate, signs a lab order.

  2. Step 2

    Visit between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

    Plan your lab visit so your blood is drawn in this window. The lab records the collection time, because the reference range is set for it.

  3. Step 3

    Read it in context

    Morning cortisol is often read with an afternoon value or other tests. A healthcare provider can explain what your result means for you.

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 a morning draw between 7 a.m. and 9 a.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 with your symptoms and other tests, and decides whether follow-up testing makes sense.

Morning or afternoon cortisol?

Same hormone, two points in the daily rhythm.

Morning

Cortisol drawn between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Draw window
7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Point in the rhythm
Near the daily peak
Often used
A common first look, read with other results

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

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • 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.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Cortisol follows a daily rhythm. It usually peaks in the early morning and falls through the day. The lab’s reference range for this test is set for a draw between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., so a sample taken later can be hard to compare.

The lab writes the collection time on your sample for the same reason.

Yes. Prednisone and prednisolone can cross-⁠react with this test, and 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 sometimes called the stress hormone, but a blood level does not measure how stressed you are. It shifts with the time of day and can be affected by sleep, illness, and some medicines.

A healthcare provider reads it with your symptoms, the time of the draw, and other results.

Not on its own. Morning cortisol is a first look. Conditions where the adrenal glands make too much or too little cortisol are evaluated by a healthcare provider, often with other timed or specialized tests.

If you feel tired, a result within the range does not tell you why. A clinician can help you look at other possible causes.

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.