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Cortisol, Morning
Panel: Hormone Tests · All hormones tests
Typical adult reference range
| Conventional units | 6.2–19.4 µg/dL |
| SI units | 171–535 nmol/L |
Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.
What a high or low result can mean
High cortisol, morning: high values can be seen in Cushing syndrome, acute stress, and illness.
Low cortisol, morning: low values may occur in adrenal insufficiency.
These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.
Good to know
Cortisol follows a daily rhythm and is highest in the early morning; timing of the sample is essential.
Related tests — Hormone Tests
Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.