Cortisol, 30 minutes post-injection

Serum

Other names: Cortisol, 30 Min

Optimal Result: 18 - 100 ug/dL.

Cortisol, 30 Minutes Post-Injection – What It Means in Your Lab Results

Cortisol, 30 minutes post-injection refers to the level of cortisol in your blood measured 30 minutes after receiving an injection of synthetic ACTH (Cosyntropin) during the ACTH stimulation test. This marker helps assess how well your adrenal glands respond to stimulation and is critical in diagnosing conditions like adrenal insufficiency and pituitary dysfunction.


Why This Marker Is Important

This 30-minute cortisol value reflects your adrenal glands’ immediate response to ACTH, which normally triggers the adrenal cortex to produce and release cortisol. In a healthy response, cortisol levels should rise significantly from the baseline (pre-injection) level within 30 minutes. The degree of increase helps determine whether the adrenal glands are functioning properly and whether the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is intact.


Expected Response Range

  • A normal cortisol response at 30 minutes is typically ≥18 µg/dL, though some labs may accept values as slightly lower depending on the baseline.

  • A blunted or minimal rise in cortisol at 30 minutes can indicate a problem with adrenal function or ACTH signaling.


What Abnormal Results May Indicate

Low or Inadequate Cortisol Rise at 30 Minutes:

  • Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) – the adrenal glands are damaged and can't respond to ACTH

  • Secondary adrenal insufficiency – due to pituitary dysfunction or long-term corticosteroid use suppressing ACTH production

  • Recent adrenal suppression – such as from stopping steroid medications

Normal or Elevated Cortisol at 30 Minutes:

  • Suggests that the adrenal glands are responsive and functioning normally

  • Helps rule out adrenal insufficiency when combined with baseline and 60-minute results


Sample Type and Collection

  • Sample type: Serum

  • Tube type: Serum separator tube (gold-top or tiger-top)

  • Timing: Drawn exactly 30 minutes after Cosyntropin injection for accurate interpretation


Clinical Use

This marker is part of a three-point evaluation (baseline, 30 minutes, 60 minutes) in the Cosyntropin stimulation test, used to:

  • Diagnose adrenal insufficiency

  • Evaluate pituitary or hypothalamic dysfunction

  • Monitor adrenal recovery in patients previously on corticosteroids


Takeaway

Cortisol, 30 minutes post-injection is a key indicator of how effectively your adrenal glands respond to ACTH stimulation. A healthy increase in cortisol at this time point supports normal adrenal function, while a poor response may point to adrenal or pituitary disorders. This measurement, alongside baseline and 60-minute cortisol values, gives clinicians essential insight into your endocrine health and helps guide further diagnostic or treatment decisions.

What does it mean if your Cortisol, 30 minutes post-injection result is too low?

Cortisol, 30 minutes post-injection measures the adrenal glands' immediate response to synthetic ACTH (Cosyntropin) and is a critical marker in diagnosing adrenal insufficiency. Traditionally, a cortisol level of ≥18 µg/dL at this time point has been considered a normal response, especially when older immunoassays were used. Levels below 18 µg/dL may indicate an inadequate adrenal response, raising concern for conditions like primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s disease) or secondary adrenal insufficiency due to pituitary dysfunction or recent corticosteroid use. However, more recent guidelines and newer, more specific assays such as LC-MS/MS suggest slightly lower cutoffs may be acceptable—around 14.6 to 15 µg/dL. In healthy individuals, the median 30-minute cortisol response typically falls near 21.7 µg/dL, with a reference range from 15.7 to 29.1 µg/dL. Because cortisol assays and thresholds vary by lab, it’s essential to interpret results within the context of the lab’s specific reference range and the patient’s clinical picture. Persistently low cortisol responses at 30 minutes may warrant further endocrine evaluation to determine the root cause of adrenal or pituitary dysfunction.

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