Cortisol (Free) Urine Test

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, produced by the adrenal glands. It is vital for survival given its role in various bodily functions such as immunity, regulating blood pressure and releasing insulin for blood sugar maintenance. Cortisol has been termed 'the stress hormone' because it is secreted in higher quantities during the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress, and is responsible for several stress-related changes in the body.

A cortisol urine test tends to be more comprehensive than any other cortisol test as it measures the total amount of cortisol excreted into the urine over a 24-hour period whereas blood or saliva tests only measure cortisol levels at a particular time of day. Some people also find blood tests to be stressful and since the body releases more cortisol during times of stress, the results may be affected.

This test establishes the levels of cortisol in the urine and can help identify Cushing's syndrome, which is caused by too much cortisol, or Addison's disease, which is caused by damage to the adrenal glands and is associated with too little cortisol.