Talk to a clinician to determine which cortisol test is appropriate
Use a blood test (usually morning) ordered by a clinician
Collect a salivary cortisol sample (often multiple times across the day, including late evening) as instructed
Collect a 24-hour urine free cortisol sample as instructed by a clinician or lab
Follow medication and timing instructions provided by the ordering clinician/lab
Check for lab-specific collection requirements (tubes, preservatives, fasting, time windows)
Schedule the test for the recommended time (commonly early morning for serum; late evening and/or multiple points for saliva)
For home saliva or urine tests, return samples promptly using the provided shipping instructions
Record collection times and any relevant symptoms/medication doses as requested
Review results with the clinician who ordered the test for interpretation and next steps