ACTH
Also known as: Corticotropin
Formal name: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Related tests: Cortisol, Cortrosyn (ACTH) stimulation test, Dexamethasone suppression test
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To help diagnose adrenal and pituitary diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome, Cushing’s disease, Addison’s disease, adrenal tumors, and pituitary tumors
When to Get Tested?
When you have symptoms associated with excess or deficient cortisol production; when your doctor suspects that you have a hormone imbalance that could be caused by a problem in your pituitary or adrenal glands
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm
Test Preparation Needed?
Your doctor may request that you fast overnight before testing. Blood is typically drawn in the morning, about 8 a.m.
