Typical costs related to Cortisol Test

The cost of a cortisol test varies widely depending on the test type, provider, and country. A salivary cortisol test (often as a morning or diurnal profile) typically costs between $30 and $80 in the US or €30–€80 in Europe when paid out-of-pocket. Blood cortisol tests range from $20 to $50, and 24-hour urine cortisol from $40 to $100. Comprehensive panels with multiple time points or additional markers (e.g., DHEA, ACTH) can cost $100–$300. MyBody-X may offer cortisol as part of a stress or hormone panel, but specific pricing is not provided in the given context. Importantly, many health insurance plans only cover cortisol testing when medically indicated (e.g., suspected Cushing’s syndrome or adrenal insufficiency). Without a doctor’s order, these are self-pay or direct-to-consumer tests. The clinical utility of a single cortisol measurement is limited due to strong circadian variation and acute stress effects. Marketing often overstates the value of cortisol testing for 'burnout' or 'fatigue,' but evidence for population screening is weak. Recommendation: only test with a clear medical question and professional interpretation.