Cortisol in Urine

24-Hour Cortisol Free Urine Test

What Affects the Test

Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:

• Having physical or emotional stress.
• Being pregnant. This can cause urine cortisol levels to be high.
• Having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
• Eating, drinking, or exercising before the test.
• Taking medicines, such as birth control pills, estrogen, amphetamines or corticosteroids.
• Not collecting exactly 24 hours of urine.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: August 21, 2006
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
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