Stress & Growth Hormones
Cortisol, DHEA, growth hormone, IGF-1 and other adrenal and pituitary hormones.
22 tests explained
Most common tests
- CortisolThe main stress hormone made by your adrenal glands. It follows a daily rhythm, so the time of your blood draw matters when reading the result.
- DHEA Sulfate (DHEA-S)A hormone made by your adrenal glands that your body uses to make sex hormones. It peaks in your twenties and falls with age, so ranges depend on age and sex.
- IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1)A protein your liver makes in response to growth hormone. It's a steady signal of growth hormone activity, and usual levels vary a lot with age and sex.
Common follow-up tests
- 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP)A steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands and ovaries. Clinicians use it mainly to look into congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an inherited enzyme condition.
- ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone)A pituitary hormone that tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol. It is read together with cortisol to see where a hormone problem may start.
- AldosteroneA hormone from the adrenal glands that helps your kidneys hold on to salt and water and release potassium. It helps control blood pressure.
- Aldosterone / Direct Renin Ratio (ADRR)A calculated ratio of aldosterone to direct renin concentration. Clinicians use it as a first step when looking into primary aldosteronism in people with high blood pressure.
- Aldosterone / Renin Activity Ratio (ARR)A calculated ratio of aldosterone to plasma renin activity. Clinicians use it as a first step when looking into primary aldosteronism in people with high blood pressure.
- Cortisol, Free, 24-Hour UrineMeasures the free (active) cortisol your body clears in urine over a full day. It is one of the standard first tests when Cushing syndrome is a question.
- Cortisol, Late-Night SalivaCortisol in a saliva sample taken near bedtime, when levels are normally at their lowest. It shows whether the daily cortisol rhythm dips as expected at night.
- Cortisol, SalivaCortisol measured in saliva at a set time of day. It reflects the free, active cortisol and shows how levels rise and fall across the day.
- DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone, Unconjugated)A hormone made mostly by the adrenal glands that the body uses as a building block for sex hormones. It differs from DHEA-S, and levels fall steadily with age.
- Growth Hormone (GH)A hormone from the pituitary gland that drives growth in children and helps manage body composition in adults. It is released in bursts, so one level is hard to interpret.
- IGF-1 Z-Score (SDS)A score that shows how far your IGF-1 result is from the average for people of your age and sex, in standard deviations. Labs usually print it next to IGF-1.
- IGFBP-3 (IGF Binding Protein 3)A protein made mostly in the liver that carries IGF-1 in the blood. It rises and falls with growth hormone and with nutrition, and usual levels change a lot with age.
- Metanephrine, 24-Hour UrineMeasures metanephrine, a breakdown product of adrenaline, in all the urine you collect over 24 hours. Doctors use it to look into adrenal gland tumors.
- Metanephrine, Free, PlasmaMeasures free metanephrine, a breakdown product of adrenaline, in a blood sample. Doctors use it to look into adrenal gland tumors.
- Normetanephrine, 24-Hour UrineMeasures normetanephrine, a breakdown product of norepinephrine, in all the urine you collect over 24 hours. Doctors use it to look into adrenal gland tumors.
- Normetanephrine, Free, PlasmaMeasures free normetanephrine, a breakdown product of norepinephrine, in a blood sample. Doctors use it to look into adrenal gland tumors.
- Plasma Renin Activity (PRA)Measures how active renin is in your blood. Renin is a kidney enzyme that helps control blood pressure and salt balance.
- Renin, Direct ConcentrationCounts the amount of active renin, a kidney enzyme that helps control blood pressure and salt balance. It is not the same test as renin activity.
- Total Metanephrines, 24-Hour UrineThe combined amount of metanephrine and normetanephrine in your urine over 24 hours. Doctors use it to look into adrenal gland tumors.