Specimen Requirements

Cortrosyn is available from the pharmacy or Omnicell.  Cortroysn should be given within 60 minutes after baseline collection.

Baseline - REQUIRED (30 and/or 60 minute post dose specimens must also be submitted.)

Baseline

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Green-top (lithium heparin) tube

Acceptable: Gold-top tube serum gel tube or Plain red-top tube, lavender EDTA plasma
Specimen Volume: 150 uL of plasma or serum

Stability:Due to possible evaporation effects, samples and calibrators on the analyzers should be analyzed/measured within 2 hours. Stable for 24 hours at 20‑25 °C, 4 days at 2‑8 °C, 12 months at ‑20 °C (± 5 °C). Freeze only once.

Collection Instructions: A baseline cortisol is drawn, and then 0.25 mg of Cortrosyn is injected intramuscularly (IM) within 60 minutes of the draw.

Note: 1. Nursing must notify the laboratory of exact time injection was given so post dose time of draw can be set.

2. Label specimen appropriately (for baseline).

3. Assure that 30 min and/or 60 min post dose tests are ordered.