Test Catalog

Test Id : CRANR

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Cortisol, Free, Random, Urine

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Investigating suspected hypercortisolism when a 24-hour collection is prohibitive (ie, pediatric patients)

Profile Information
A profile is a group of laboratory tests that are ordered and performed together under a single Mayo Test ID. Profile information lists the test performed, inclusive of the test fee, when a profile is ordered and includes reporting names and individual availability.

Test Id Reporting Name Available Separately Always Performed
CRAN Cortisol, Random, U No Yes
CRETR Creatinine, Random, U Yes, (order RCTUR ) Yes

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

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

CRETR: Enzymatic Colorimetric Assay

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Cortisol, Free, Random, U

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Cortisol Free Urine

Cortisol, Random, Urine

Free Cortisol

Free Urinary Cortisol

Urinary Free Cortisol

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Urine

Ordering Guidance

The preferred screening test for Cushing syndrome is a measurement of free cortisol in a 24-hour urine collection by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS); order CORTU / Cortisol, Free, 24 Hour, Urine.

 

The optimal specimen type for evaluation of primary adrenal insufficiency and hypopituitarism is serum; order CORT / Cortisol, Serum.

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Supplies: Urine tube, 10 mL (T068)

Collection Container/Tube: Clean, plastic urine container with no metal cap or glued insert

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic, 10-mL urine tube or clean, plastic aliquot container with no metal cap or glued insert

Specimen Volume: 10 mL

Collection Instructions: Collect a random urine specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

3 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

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

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Urine Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
Frozen 28 days
Ambient 7 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Investigating suspected hypercortisolism when a 24-hour collection is prohibitive (ie, pediatric patients)

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Cortisol is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol by a multienzyme cascade in the adrenal glands. It is the main glucocorticoid in humans and acts as a gene transcription factor influencing a multitude of cellular responses in virtually all tissues. Cortisol plays a critical role in glucose metabolism, maintenance of vascular tone, immune response regulation, and in the body's response to stress. Its production is under hypothalamic-pituitary feedback control.

 

Only a small percentage of circulating cortisol is biologically active (free), with the majority of cortisol inactive (protein bound). As plasma cortisol values increase, free cortisol (ie, unconjugated cortisol or hydrocortisone) increases and is filtered through the glomerulus. Urinary free cortisol (UFC) correlates well with the concentration of plasma free cortisol. UFC represents excretion of the circulating, biologically active, free cortisol that is responsible for the signs and symptoms of hypercortisolism.

 

The UFC assay is a sensitive test for the various types of adrenocortical dysfunction, particularly hypercortisolism (Cushing syndrome). A measurement of 24-hour UFC excretion by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the preferred screening test for Cushing syndrome. LC-MS/MS methodology eliminates analytical interferences including carbamazepine (Tegretol) and synthetic corticosteroids, which can affect immunoassay-based cortisol results.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

Males

0-2 years: 3.0-120 mcg/g creatinine

3-8 years: 2.2-89 mcg/g creatinine

9-12 years: 1.4-56 mcg/g creatinine

13-17 years: 1.0-42 mcg/g creatinine

> or =18 years: 1.0-119 mcg/g creatinine

 

Females

0-2 years: 3.0-120 mcg/g creatinine

3-8 years: 2.2-89 mcg/g creatinine

9-12 years: 1.4-56 mcg/g creatinine

13-17 years: 1.0-42 mcg/g creatinine

> or =18 years: 0.7-85 mcg/g creatinine

 

Use the conversion factors below to convert each analyte from mcg/g creatinine to nmol/mol creatinine.

 

Conversion factor

Cortisol: mcg/g creatinine x 312=nmol/mol creatinine

 

Cortisol molecular weight=362.5

Creatinine molecular weight=113.12

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Most patients with Cushing syndrome have increased 24-hour urinary excretion of cortisol. Further studies, including suppression or stimulation tests, measurement of serum corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone) concentrations, and imaging are usually necessary to confirm the diagnosis and determine the etiology.

 

Values in the normal range may occur in patients with mild Cushing syndrome or with periodic hormonogenesis. In these cases, continuing follow-up and repeat testing are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.

 

Patients with Cushing syndrome due to intake of synthetic glucocorticoids should have suppressed cortisol. In these circumstances a synthetic glucocorticoid screen might be ordered (SGSU / Synthetic Glucocorticoid Screen, Random, Urine).

 

Suppressed cortisol values may also be observed in primary adrenal insufficiency and hypopituitarism. The optimal specimen type for evaluation of primary adrenal insufficiency and hypopituitarism is serum (CORT / Cortisol, Serum).

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Random urine cortisol results are less reliable than results obtained from properly collected and complete 24-hour urine specimens, which are not affected by diurnal variations in cortisol levels.

 

Acute stress (including hospitalization and surgery), alcoholism, depression, and many drugs (eg, exogenous cortisone, anticonvulsants) can obliterate normal diurnal variation, affect response to suppression/stimulation tests, and increase baseline levels.

 

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry methodology eliminates analytical interferences including carbamazepine (Tegretol) and synthetic corticosteroids.

 

Random urine specimens may yield falsely elevated values when patients have a high urinary output.

 

Kidney disease (decreased clearance) may cause falsely low values.

 

Values may be elevated to twice normal in pregnancy.

 

Patients with exogenous Cushing syndrome caused by ingestion of hydrocortisone will not have suppressed cortisol values.

 

When N-acetylcysteine is administered at levels sufficient to act as an antidote for the treatment of acetaminophen overdose, it may lead to falsely decreased creatinine results.

Supportive Data

Multiple calibration curves for urinary cortisol and cortisone exhibited consistent linearity and reproducibility in the range of 7 to 828 nmol/L (0.25-30 mcg/dL). Inter-assay coefficients of variation were 7.3% to 16% for mean concentrations of 6 to 726 nmol/L (0.2-26.3 mcg/dL) for cortisol and cortisone. The detection limit was 6 nmol/L (0.2 mcg/dL). Recovery of cortisol and cortisone added to urine was 97% to 123%. The regression equation for the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (y) and high-performance liquid chromatography (x) method for cortisol was: y = 1.11x + 0.03 mcg cortisol/24 h (r(2) = 0.992; n = 99). The regression equation for the LC-MS/MS (y) and immunoassay (x) methods for cortisol was: y = 0.66x - 12.1 mcg cortisol/24 h (r(2) = 0.67; n = 99).(1)

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Taylor RL, Machacek DA, Singh RJ. Validation of a high-throughput liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for urinary cortisol and cortisone. Clin Chem. 2002;48(9):1511-1519

2. Findling JW, Raff H. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2001;30(3):729-747

3. Boscaro M, Barzon L, Fallo F, Sonino N. Cushing's syndrome. Lancet. 2001;357(9258):783-791

4. Suzuki S, Minamidate T, Shiga A, et al. Steroid metabolites for diagnosing and predicting clinicopathological features in cortisol-producing adrenocortical carcinoma. BMC Endocr Disord. 2020;20(1):173. doi:10.1186/s12902-020-00652-y

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Isotopically labeled cortisol and cortisone are added to the sample as internal standards. Cortisol, cortisone, and coinciding internal standards are extracted from the specimens using online turbulent flow chromatography, which is followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis.(Unpublished Mayo method)

 

Creatinine:

The enzymatic method is based on the determination of sarcosine from creatinine with the aid of creatininase, creatinase, and sarcosine oxidase. The liberated hydrogen peroxide is measured via a modified Trinder reaction using a colorimetric indicator. Optimization of the buffer system and the colorimetric indicator enables the creatinine concentration to be quantified both precisely and specifically.(Package insert: Creatinine plus ver 2. Roche Diagnostics; V15.0, 03/2019)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Friday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

2 to 6 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

14 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees :
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

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
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

82530

82570

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
CRANR Cortisol, Free, Random, U 44309-3
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
10328 Cortisol/Creatinine Ratio 11155-9
CRETR Creatinine, Random, U 2161-8

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports