Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation

Instruct patients receiving cortisone, hydrocortisone, or spironolactone to omit their pre-test doses the day of testing.  Patients taking spironolactone or women taking drugs which contain estrogen may exhibit abnormally high basal plasma cortisol levels.

Performance of Test

1. This test begins with drawing a baseline specimen.

2. Nursing then administers 0.25 mg of cosyntropin by intravenous push (intramuscular acceptable).

3. Specimens are drawn at exactly 30- and 60-minutes from time dosage was administered. Collect the specimen in LIS at time of draw.

4. A baseline HP (OH-proges) will be drawn at the same time as the baseline cortisol, and the 60 minute HP will be drawn at the same time as the 60 minute cortisol.

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

Specimen Collection for cortisol only:

Preferred:

Specimen Type: Plasma for cortisol, total

Container/Tube: Light-green top (lithium heparin gel)

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL

Additional Information: Label specimens as BASCOR (baseline), 30 COR (30 minutes), 60 COR (60 minutes).

Spin down within 8 hrs of draw.

Alternate:

Specimen Type: Serum for cortisol, total

Container/Tube: Serum gel

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.3 mL

Additional Information: Label specimens as BASCOR (baseline), 30 COR (30 minutes), 60 COR (60 minutes).

Spin down within 8 hrs of draw.

Specimen collection for 17-hydroxyprogesterone only:

Specimen Type: Serum for 17-hydroxyprogesterone

Container/Tube: Plain red top

Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL

Specimen Minimum Volume: 0.25 mL

Additional Information:

1. Serum gel tube is not acceptable.

2. Label specimens as BAS HP (baseline OH-proges), and 60 HP (60 minutes OH-proges).

3. Indicate patient’s age and sex on request form.