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Test Code SALCC Cortisol and Cortisone, Saliva


Necessary Information


Collection time is required.



Specimen Required


If multiple specimens are collected, submit each Salivette under a separate order number.

 

Patient Preparation:

1. Patient should not brush teeth, eat, drink, or take any oral medication for at least 60 minutes before specimen collection.

2. Have patient rinse mouth thoroughly with water for 1 to 5 seconds. Wait 10 minutes before collecting the specimen to avoid contamination of the saliva by an interfering substance.

Supplies: Cortisol, Saliva Collection Kit (T514)

Container/Tube: Sarstedt Salivette

Specimen Volume: 1.5 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Provide patient with a Saliva Collection Kit (Salivette) containing the Cortisol and Cortisone - Saliva Collection Instructions and ask them to follow the instructions as written.

2. If performing a late-night salivary cortisol (LNSC) test, specimen should be collected immediately prior to going to bed. If patient is undergoing assessment for adrenal insufficiency, specimen should be collected immediately after waking up. The patient should follow their normal sleeping schedule. Record collection time on the Cortisol and Cortisone - Saliva Collection Instructions sheet.

3. Instruct patient to return Cortisol and Cortisone - Saliva Collection Instructions with the appropriately labeled Salivette to the laboratory.

Additional Information: Reference intervals are available for LNSC testing (immediately before going to bed) and immediately after waking for assessment of adrenal insufficiency.


Useful For

Screening and diagnosis of Cushing syndrome/hypercortisolism

 

Adjunctive evaluation of adrenal insufficiency (using waking salivary cortisone/cortisol)

 

May be useful to assess for hypercortisolism/other adrenal disorders during pregnancy/oral estrogen therapy (when total cortisol is increased due to increase in cortisol-binding globulin) or in states of low cortisol-binding globulin (critical illness)

 

Evaluation of suspected contamination from topical steroids

Method Name

Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Reporting Name

Cortisol and Cortisone, Saliva

Specimen Type

Saliva

Specimen Minimum Volume

0.6 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Saliva Refrigerated (preferred) 28 days
  Frozen  60 days
  Ambient  14 days

Reject Due To

  All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Reference Values

Cortisol:

Immediately after waking: 85-620 ng/dL

Immediately prior to going to bed: <127 ng/dL

 

Cortisone:

Immediately after waking: 510-2110 ng/dL

Immediately prior to going to bed: 62-624 ng/dL

 

Cortisol/Cortisone Ratio interpretation:

Cortisol should be lower than cortisone in saliva. A ratio greater than 1 suggests contamination with blood or exogenous cortisol. A ratio greater than 2 indicates contamination is likely. In these cases, recollection is recommended.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

3 to 6 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

82530

82542

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
SALCC Cortisol and Cortisone, Saliva In Process

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
623629 Cortisol Saliva 2142-8
623630 Cortisone Saliva In Process
623631 Cortisol/Cortisone ratio In Process