4-point saliva cortisol test

What this test is

This test collects saliva four or more times in one day to draw a curve of your cortisol, a stress hormone. It is sometimes called an 'adrenal stress' test. It is often used to explain tiredness, poor sleep or stress. Researchers have studied these cortisol curves many times, and the results have not agreed with each other. So a 'flat' or 'high' curve does not reliably tell us what is wrong or what to do. 'Adrenal fatigue' is not a recognized medical diagnosis. Your tiredness is real, though, and worth looking into. Your doctor can check for common causes like poor sleep, low iron, thyroid problems, or low mood.