: 11-Deoxycortisol, Serum or Plasma, Substance Concentration

: What Is 11-Deoxycortisol?

: 11-Deoxycortisol is a natural steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It is an intermediate step in the body's pathway that makes cortisol, a key stress and metabolism hormone. Under normal conditions only small amounts are present in the blood because it is quickly converted into cortisol.

: Why This Test Is Ordered

: Doctors order this test when they suspect a problem with adrenal hormone production. It is most often used as part of the work-up for a condition called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and it can also help evaluate other causes of high blood pressure or abnormal hormone levels related to the adrenal glands. Sometimes it is done together with other steroid hormone tests.

: How the Sample Is Collected

: A blood sample is drawn from a vein, usually in the arm, and the serum or plasma is separated for testing. Your care team may tell you whether you need to fast or whether the sample should be drawn at a particular time of day, because steroid hormone levels can vary. Follow any preparation instructions you are given.

: What the Results Mean

: Results are interpreted by your doctor alongside your symptoms, other hormone tests, and sometimes imaging. A level outside the expected range does not by itself diagnose a condition; it is one piece of information. Because reference ranges differ between laboratories and depend on factors such as age and time of collection, your report's own range and your doctor's interpretation are what matter.