Also known as: Corticotropin
Formal name: Adrenocorticotropic hormone
Related tests:Cortisol, Cortrosyn (ACTH) stimulation test, Dexamethasone suppression test
What is being tested? This test measures the amount of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood. ACTH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is located below the brain in the center of the head. It is part of the endocrine system, a network of glands that produce hormones that act on organs, tissues, and other glands and that help to regulate systems throughout the body. The pituitary creates ACTH and releases it to stimulate the production of cortisol by the adrenal glands (small organs located at the top of each kidney). Cortisol is important for regulating glucose, protein, and lipid metabolism; suppressing the immune system’s response; and maintaining blood pressure. Normally, ACTH increases when cortisol is low and falls when cortisol is high.
How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is taken by needle from a vein in the arm.
This article was last reviewed on May 5, 2006.
This page was last modified on April 8, 2009.
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