Urinary free cortisol measures the amount of unbound cortisol excreted in urine over 24 hours, reflecting the body's active stress hormone level. It is used to screen for conditions affecting cortisol production, such as Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency.
Urinary free cortisol measures the amount of unbound cortisol excreted in urine over 24 hours, reflecting the body's active stress hormone level. It is used to screen for conditions affecting cortisol production, such as Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency.
When elevated: Elevated urinary free cortisol may indicate Cushing's syndrome (excess cortisol production), severe stress, depression, or certain medications like corticosteroids. It can also reflect adrenal tumors or pituitary disorders that overstimulate cortisol release. When low: Low urinary free cortisol may suggest adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) or secondary adrenal failure from pituitary dysfunction. It can also occur with certain medications that suppress cortisol production.
Elevated urinary free cortisol can reflect high training stress, poor recovery, or overtraining—useful for monitoring training load and adaptation. Athletes with chronically elevated levels may experience increased injury risk, immune suppression, and slower recovery; tracking this marker helps identify when training volume or intensity needs adjustment.
Turnaround Time
4 days (up to 9 days)
Method
Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS)
verifiedGold StandardMass spectrometry — higher accuracy, especially at low concentrations
Order online
Choose your lab and check out. We send your lab requisition automatically — no doctor visit needed.
Get your sample collected
Visit a lab service center near you for a quick blood draw (or book at-home phlebotomy where available).
See your results
Your results land in your Insider portal, ready to review and act on — that easy.
Your price
$100.00$180
1.8× less than retail
Versus the typical direct-to-consumer retail price for this test (illustrative — consumer prices vary by provider and region).
$100.00
Peer-reviewed sources supporting the educational content on this page.
Urinary free cortisol measures the amount of unbound cortisol excreted in urine over 24 hours, reflecting the body's active stress hormone level. It is used to screen for conditions affecting cortisol production, such as Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency.
Urinary free cortisol measures the amount of unbound cortisol excreted in urine over 24 hours, reflecting the body's active stress hormone level. It is used to screen for conditions affecting cortisol production, such as Cushing's syndrome or adrenal insufficiency.
When elevated: Elevated urinary free cortisol may indicate Cushing's syndrome (excess cortisol production), severe stress, depression, or certain medications like corticosteroids. It can also reflect adrenal tumors or pituitary disorders that overstimulate cortisol release.
The Cortisol, Urinary Free test starts at $100.00 at Labcorp. No doctor's visit and no insurance needed; we do not bill insurance. Fitomics Insider members pay from $75.00.
Results for the Cortisol, Urinary Free test are typically ready about 4 days after your draw, and up to 9 days for some samples. Your results land in your Insider portal.
No. When you order the Cortisol, Urinary Free test from Fitomics Research Labs, a licensed physician in our 50-state network reviews and signs your requisition after checkout, and it lands in your portal and inbox. Then visit any Labcorp, Quest, or BioReference patient service center for your draw; results post to your Insider portal.
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