Cortisol - Urine
Alternate Names : 24-Hour Urinary Free Cortisol (UFC)
Definition
A test that measures the amount of cortisol in the urine.
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Why is the Test Performed?
The test is used to evaluate for increased or decreased cortisol production.
Cortisol is a steroid hormone released from the adrenal gland in response to ACTH, a hormone from the anterior pituitary gland. Cortisol levels rise and fall during the day. Highest levels occur at about 6 to 8 A.M. and lowest levels at about midnight.
Cortisol affects many different body systems. It plays a role in lipid, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. Cortisol also plays a role in the bone, circulatory, nervous and immune systems. Cortisol is critical for normal stress responses. Different diseases, such as Cushing's disease and Addison's disease, can lead to either over or under production of cortisol. Urinary free cortisol measurements can help to diagnose these conditions.
Urinary free cortisol is a measurement of the cortisol in the urine that is not attached to other substances. Free cortisol represents the active form of the hormone. The urine measurement directly reflects the blood level of cortisol.
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