Cortisol (saliva) (Saliva)

Testcode:	E_CORTSP
Specimens:	1 ml Saliva
Preanalytics/Notes:	Requirement: 1 ml saliva in Salivette. Remove the absorbent cotton roll from the Salivette, place under the tongue or chew lightly until the absorbent cotton roll is saturated (approx. 2 minutes). Return the absorbent cotton roll into the tube and close tightly. Sample should be collected no sooner than 30 minutes after ingestion of solid or liquid food. Do not smoke 1 hour before, brush teeth, no licorice, chewing tobacco. Avoid stressful situation during collection. Observe distinct daily rhythm: Maximum in the morning, minimum at midnight. Optimal time for sample collection in cases of suspected Cushing's syndrome is at night between 11 - 12 p.m. Oestrogen administration and pregnancy lead to change of transcortin which results in increased total cortisol. Protein deficiency leads to decreased total cortisol with physiological free cortisol (biologically active).
Method:	Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Dimension:	nmol/l
Set-up:	on demand
Duration:	4 days

performance by Bioscientia medical service centers

both sex

morning: 3-21 nmol/l late evening: 0.5-2.5 nmol/l