The short answer
Measures afternoon cortisol levels to evaluate adrenal function and the normal diurnal cortisol pattern, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $34.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest.
Hospital Lab
$180
cash pay
Other Labs
$55
+ lab fees
TestWell
$34.99
+ $6 lab fee
Cortisol follows a natural diurnal rhythm — highest in the early morning and lowest in the late evening. A PM cortisol test measures levels in the afternoon or evening to evaluate whether this pattern is intact. Abnormally high PM cortisol can indicate Cushing's syndrome, chronic stress, or HPA axis dysregulation. When paired with an AM cortisol test, the PM result provides a more complete picture of adrenal function. This test is commonly ordered for patients with symptoms of adrenal dysfunction, including fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, anxiety, and difficulty recovering from stress.
Measures serum cortisol — the body's primary stress hormone. PM (4 PM) measurement evaluates afternoon cortisol decline; useful for Cushing's screening and HPA axis assessment.
Anyone evaluating chronic stress, fatigue, weight gain, hypertension; suspected Cushing's syndrome (centripetal weight gain, purple striae, easy bruising); HPA axis dysfunction workup.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Quest
Your Cortisol, PM results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 1–3 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you.
Blood should be drawn between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM for accurate PM cortisol assessment.
A Cortisol, PM test costs $34.99 at TestWell — $40.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $180.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $34.99 | $40.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $180.00 | $180.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 4213 · Labcorp test no. 104026 · BioReference code 0067-9. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
TestWell Price
$34.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Sleep Health Panel
Save $100.93This test is part of the Sleep Health Panel — 8 tests · 11 biomarkers for $129.99, $100.93 less than à la carte.
$129.99$230.92
8 tests · 11 biomarkers
Frequently ordered together
Customers who ordered Cortisol, PM also added these for a more complete health picture.
Not sure where to start?
Cortisol, PM
$34.99