How to Prepare for a Cortisol Test

The cortisol test is a key medical tool for detecting health problems such as Cushing's disease and adrenal insufficiency. A physician or specialist might order a cortisol test to determine if your levels of cortisol--a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland--fall within normal levels to make an effective diagnosis. Although a cortisol test is a straightforward medical procedure, following some simple preparatory steps will make the process easier for you and will ensure accurate results.

Instructions

Preparing for a Cortisol Test

• 1

  Follow your physician's orders regarding briefly discontinuing certain medications you are be taking, if necessary. Prednisone and estrogen, according to UCLA, might cause your levels of cortisol to show up lower than they naturally are. Androgens such as testosterone, as well as the anti-epileptic drug phenytoin, can cause innacurate high cortisol levels that also will skew the test results.

• 2

  Get plenty of sleep the night before the test. Factors that can cause increased cortisol levels and thus inaccurate results from the test include stress, both emotional and physical. Making extra time for sleep in the night or two before your cortisol test will help reduce the risk of fatigue-related stress.

• 3

  Drink plenty of water. Cortisol tests, according to the National Institutes of Health, are conducted by blood drawn through a syringe. On the day before and day of your test, be sure to hydrate thoroughly. This will help your veins "puff" out and make the blood-drawing process easier.

• 4

  Avoid caffeine on the day of your test. It might be a hard to go without your morning coffee or tea, but this will help the blood cortisol test go more smoothly. This is because caffeine--especially in high amounts--can cause both constriction of the veins and elevated blood pressure, two things that can make it hard for a health care professional to draw blood easily.

• 5

  Don't drink alcohol before the test. This includes the night before, since alcohol consumption causes dehydration--one more factor that can cause unnecessary pain as the syringe enters your vein. Avoiding a hematoma--a painful, often large accumulation of blood under the skin--will save you considerable discomfort and keep your arm free of a potentially unsightly bruise.