Which cortisol test is right for me?

A hair cortisol test

Your question is about months, not moments, and that is what a hair test measures: your average cortisol over roughly three months, from one sample cut at home, with no timing rules. A stressful morning or one bad night will barely register. To track a change, test once now and again three to six months later, or see the hair sample calculator for when to test.

Read how a hair cortisol test works, or see where to get one on cortisol tests compared.

A hair test can add the long view

Alongside your other tests, a hair test shows what your cortisol has been doing over the months between appointments, which no single blood or saliva sample can. It is not part of the diagnostic guidelines, so share the result with your doctor rather than using it on its own. See the hair cortisol test.

A saliva test across one day

To see the shape of one day, saliva samples taken at set times (on waking, 30 minutes later, midday and bedtime) show how your cortisol rises and falls. Remember it describes that day only; repeat it on several days to get a fair picture. Read the saliva cortisol test and cortisol's daily rhythm, and compare providers on our comparison page.