Test Mneumonic

CORTSAL

Collect

Saliva. Swab must be completely saturated to ensure sufficient volume for testing.

Specimen Preparation

Transfer saturated swab to plain (non-citric acid) cotton Salivette® collection device (ARUP Supply #41252). Record the time of collection on the test request form, and on Salivette® transport container.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: 3 weeks; Frozen: 6 months

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens not collected using the Salivette® collection device. Sodium azide preservative. Specimens with pH values greater than 9.0 or less than 3.5 must be recollected. Specimens visibly contaminated with blood, cellular debris, food particles, or mucus.

Patient Preparation

Do not collect specimen within 60 minutes after eating a meal, within 12 hours after consuming alcohol, immediately after brushing teeth or after any activity that may cause gums to bleed. Rinse mouth thoroughly with water 10 minutes before specimen collection. Recommended collection time is between 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Notes

Bovine hormones normally present in dairy products can cross-react with anti-cortisol antibodies and cause false results.  Acidic or high sugar foods can compromise assay performance by lowering sample pH and influencing bacterial growth.  Samples with pH values greater than 9.0 or less than 3.5 must be recollected.

Performed

Mon, Wed, Fri

Reported

1-4 days

Performing Lab

ARUP

CPT Codes

82533

Methodology

Quantitative Enzyme Immunoassay

Reference Interval

By report

Interpretive Data

For a collection at 2300 hr, the normal cortisol concentration is less than 0.112 µg/dL.  Patients with Cushing's Syndrome have concentrations of  0.112 µg/dL or greater.

Ordering/Collection

Test Mneumonic

CORTSAL

Collect

Saliva. Swab must be completely saturated to ensure sufficient volume for testing.

Specimen Preparation

Transfer saturated swab to plain (non-citric acid) cotton Salivette® collection device (ARUP Supply #41252). Record the time of collection on the test request form, and on Salivette® transport container.

Storage/Transport Temperature

Refrigerated.

Stability (from collection to initiation)

Ambient: 1 week; Refrigerated: 3 weeks; Frozen: 6 months

Unacceptable Conditions

Specimens not collected using the Salivette® collection device. Sodium azide preservative. Specimens with pH values greater than 9.0 or less than 3.5 must be recollected. Specimens visibly contaminated with blood, cellular debris, food particles, or mucus.

Patient Preparation

Do not collect specimen within 60 minutes after eating a meal, within 12 hours after consuming alcohol, immediately after brushing teeth or after any activity that may cause gums to bleed. Rinse mouth thoroughly with water 10 minutes before specimen collection. Recommended collection time is between 11:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.

Notes

Bovine hormones normally present in dairy products can cross-react with anti-cortisol antibodies and cause false results.  Acidic or high sugar foods can compromise assay performance by lowering sample pH and influencing bacterial growth.  Samples with pH values greater than 9.0 or less than 3.5 must be recollected.

Test Performance/Compliance

Performed

Mon, Wed, Fri

Reported

1-4 days

Performing Lab

ARUP

CPT Codes

82533

Methodology

Quantitative Enzyme Immunoassay

Clinical Information

Reference Interval

By report

Interpretive Data

For a collection at 2300 hr, the normal cortisol concentration is less than 0.112 µg/dL.  Patients with Cushing's Syndrome have concentrations of  0.112 µg/dL or greater.

Internal Lab Use Only