--- title: Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) Test type: test id: cortisol-free-total url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-free-and-total-test" price_usd: 239.99 lab_fee_usd: 6 all_in_usd: 245.99 cpt: 82530, 82533 category: Hormones sample: Blood draw fasting_required: false results_in: "4–7 business days" labs: - Quest orderable: true reviewed_at: 2026-10-19 order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=cortisol-free-and-total-test&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown" --- # Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) Test > Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) measures Cortisol, Total (LC/MS) and Cortisol, Free (LC/MS) from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $239.99 plus a $6 lab processing fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 4–7 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest. **Also known as:** Free Cortisol Blood Test, Cortisol LC/MS Test, Serum Free Cortisol ## Key facts | Fact | Value | | --- | --- | | Price | $239.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($245.99 all-in for this test alone) | | CPT code | 82530, 82533 | | Sample | Blood draw | | Fasting | Not required | | Results | 4–7 business days | | Labs | Quest Diagnostics | | Biomarkers measured | 2 | | Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed | | Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) | ## What does the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) test tell you? Measures both total cortisol and the unbound, biologically active free cortisol in blood by mass spectrometry — the right test when binding proteins are altered by oestrogen, pregnancy, or illness. About 90% of the cortisol in blood is bound to cortisol-binding globulin (CBG) and albumin; only the free fraction acts on tissues. A standard cortisol test measures the total and assumes normal binding proteins — an assumption that fails in common situations. Oestrogen-containing contraception, hormone therapy, and pregnancy raise CBG and so raise total cortisol while free cortisol stays normal, which can mimic Cushing's syndrome; critical illness, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, and low albumin lower total cortisol while free cortisol may be adequate, which can mimic adrenal insufficiency. This test reports both fractions, measured by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, which also avoids the cross-reactivity with prednisolone and other steroids that affects immunoassays. Timing still matters: cortisol peaks around 8 a.m. and is lowest near midnight, so a morning draw is the convention unless your clinician asks otherwise. A single level does not diagnose Cushing's or Addison's disease — those need dynamic tests (dexamethasone suppression, ACTH stimulation) that your clinician directs. **Clinical use:** Hormone testing measures the chemical messengers that regulate energy, mood, sex drive, weight, and reproduction — helping pinpoint imbalances that cause a wide range of symptoms. ## Who should order it? Anyone with unexplained fatigue, mood changes, libido changes, weight changes, irregular cycles, or considering hormone replacement therapy. ## Biomarkers measured - Cortisol, Total (LC/MS) - Cortisol, Free (LC/MS) ## Price by lab | Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Quest Diagnostics | $239.99 | $245.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) | Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added. ## How much does a Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) cost? A Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) costs $239.99 at TestWell — $245.99 all-in, since the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order and there is no draw or physician fee. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $420.00 self-pay. With insurance you pay your plan's negotiated rate against your deductible; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and HSA/FSA-eligible. | Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | TestWell (drawn at Quest) | $239.99 | $245.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order | | Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $420.00 | $420.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher | ## How do you prepare? Have your blood drawn between 7 and 9 a.m. unless your clinician specified another time; cortisol is highest in the early morning. Avoid heavy exercise, alcohol, and a late night beforehand. Tell the lab about any steroid medication (including inhalers and creams), oestrogen or contraceptive pills, and whether you are pregnant. ## Related conditions - Endocrine disorder (E34.9) - Hormonal imbalance (E34.9) ## Common questions about the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) test ### How long do Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) results take? Most Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) results are available in 4–7 business days after your specimen arrives at the lab. You'll get an email the moment results are ready, with everything viewable in your TestWell portal. ### What sample is collected for the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS)? Blood draw. A standard venous blood draw, collected at any Quest, Labcorp or BioReference patient service center — walk in with the requisition we email you, no appointment needed at most locations. ### How much does the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) cost without insurance? On TestWell, the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) is $239.99. Walk-in hospital labs typically bill $420 or more without insurance. Insurance is not required — pay one all-in price. ### Do I need to fast before the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS)? No fasting required for the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS). Have your blood drawn between 7 and 9 a.m. unless your clinician specified another time; cortisol is highest in the early morning. Avoid heavy exercise, alcohol, and a late night beforehand. Tell the lab about any steroid medication (including inhalers and creams), oestrogen or contraceptive pills, and whether you are pregnant. ### Where can I get the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) done? The Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) is available at Quest patient service centers nationwide. Order online at TestWell, pick your preferred lab, and we'll generate a digital requisition for the location closest to you. ### What can throw off a Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) result? Time of day, common medications and caffeine can change a Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) result without anything being wrong. Time of day can shift Cortisol, Total — A.M. cortisol at 7–9 a.m.; P.M. cortisol as the lab specifies. Common medications can lower Cortisol, Total — cortisol testing needs prescriber guidance. Caffeine can raise Cortisol, Total — no caffeine the morning of a cortisol draw. Each is explained on our physician-reviewed "Before your test" pages; when one applies, remove it and retest. ### What is the CPT code for a Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS)? CPT 82530, 82533. That is the billing code Quest, Labcorp and hospital laboratories all use for a Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS), so it is the number to match on an explanation of benefits, a doctor's order or a price list — the same code, the same test, whichever lab draws it. You do not need the code to order: TestWell sells the Free and Total Cortisol Test (LC/MS) for $239.99 with the physician order included, no insurance required, and results in 4–7 business days. ## How to order 1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=cortisol-free-and-total-test&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown 2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA. 3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email. 4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites. 5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 4–7 business days with reference ranges and flags. ## Related - [Adiponectin](https://www.test-well.com/tests/adiponectin) — $36.99 - [Aldosterone](https://www.test-well.com/tests/aldosterone-test) — $61.99 - [Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) Profile](https://www.test-well.com/tests/antidiuretic-hormone-profile) — $109.99 - [Cortisol (AM)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-am) — $26.99 - [Cortisol, PM](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-pm) — $34.99 - [All Hormones tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/hormones) - [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory) --- Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-10-19. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/cortisol-free-and-total-test Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.