Jan 18, 2022

Cortisol assays list

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Cortisol assays are poorly standardized across different platforms and methods. A single cortisol cut-off for the ACTH Stimulation Test for adrenal deficiency often differs depending on the testing laboratory. Laboratories generally do not include thresholds for ACTH Stimulation Tests on their reports.

The list below provides the immunoassays used to assist Endocrinologists in the interpretation of cortisol levels where bias may exist between laboratories.

Please contact the laboratory’s biochemist for further information.

Key to Method Principle in table

  • CMIA: Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay
  • CLIA: Chemiluminescence Immunoassay
  • ECLIA: Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

Manufacturer: Abbott

Laboratory Platform Method Biochemist contact
LifeLabs Architect CMIA Dr. Uvaraj Uddayasankar
Sickkids Architect CMIA Dr. Lusia Sepiashvili
CAMH Alinity CMIA Dr. Cristiana Stefan
UHN Alinity CMIA Dr. Vathany Kulasingam

Manufacturer: Beckman

Laboratory Platform Method Biochemist contact
Scarborough UniCel DxI CLIA Dr. Zahraa Mohammed-Ali
Mackenzie UniCel DxI CLIA Maria De Oliveira

Manufacturer: Roche

Laboratory Platform Method Biochemist contact
Dynacare Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Hui Li
Humber River Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Atoosa Rezvanpour
Markham Stouffville Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Daniel Beriault
Michael Garron Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Paul Yip
Mount Sinai Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Felix Leung
North York Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Paul Yip
Sunnybrook Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Lei Fu
Women’s College Elecsys ECLIA Dr. Felix Leung

Manufacturer: Siemens

Laboratory Platform Method Biochemist contact
Lakeridge Centaur XPT CLIA Dr. Rajeevan Selvaratnam
St. Michael’s Centaur XP CLIA Dr. Daniel Beriault
St. Joseph’s Centaur XP CLIA Dr. Daniel Beriault
Trillium Centaur XP CLIA Dr. Kun-Young Sohn
William Osler Atellica CLIA Dr. Saranya Arnoldo

References

Serum Cortisol: An Up-To-Date Assessment of Routine Assay Performance.

Screening for Nonclassic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in the Era of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem
Mass Spectrometry
.

Clinical implications for biochemical diagnostic thresholds of adrenal sufficiency using a highly specific
cortisol immunoassay

Authors / contact

Compiled by

Dr. Paul Yip

Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and University of Toronto

paul.yip@utoronto.ca

Clinical lead

Dr. Julie Gilmour

Contributors

Khosrow Adeli, Saranya Arnoldo, Daniel Beriault, Lei Fu, Davor Brinc, Felix Leung, Hui Li, Zahraa Mohammed-Ali, Atoosa Rezvanpour, Lusia Sepiashvili, Kun-Young Sohn, Cristiana Stefan, Uvaraj Uddayasankar, Paul Yip

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