Corticosterone, 18-OH-

Hydroxycorticosterone, 18-

Test Codes

Order Reference Lab Miscellaneous Send Out: EPIC: LAB848, Beaker: Ref. Lab. Misc., Quest: 94621

Department

Send Outs

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Red-top tube.

Unacceptable: Gold-top Serum Separator Tube (SST).

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 0.5 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.25 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Transport: 0.5 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.25 mL)

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 7 days
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 28 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Quest Diagnostics, Wood Dale, IL.

Performed

Sunday, Tuesday.
Results available in 4-10 days.

Reference Range

Adult

Males	≤175 ng/dL
Females
Pre-Menopausal Mid Follicular	≤98 ng/dL
Pre-Menopausal Surge	≤152 ng/dL
Pre-Menopausal Mid Luteal	36-164 ng/dL

Pediatric

<30 days	Not established
1-11 months	≤165 ng/dL
1 year	≤140 ng/dL
2 years	≤129 ng/dL
3 years	≤128 ng/dL
4 years	≤133 ng/dL
5 years	≤142 ng/dL
6 years	≤151 ng/dL
7 years	≤160 ng/dL
8 years	≤164 ng/dL
9 years	≤166 ng/dL
10 years	≤165 ng/dL
11 years	≤163 ng/dL
12 years	≤159 ng/dL
13 years	≤155 ng/dL
14 years	≤151 ng/dL
15 years	≤146 ng/dL
16 years	≤142 ng/dL
17 years	≤138 ng/dL

Test Methodology

Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)

Clinical Utility

18-Hydroxycorticosterone – Primary aldosteronism should be suspected whenever a patient has the triad of hypertension, hypokalemia, and inappropriate renal potassium wasting. The biggest challenge is the differential diagnosis between the more common adrenal adenoma and bilateral hyperplasia. Because adrenal adenomas increase the circulating levels of 18-hydroxycorticosterone (18-OH B), serum levels of 18-OH B may be useful to differentiate them from bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. The cutoff point appears to be about 50 ng/dL of serum. Most values are around 100 ng/dL. The higher the level of this precursor, the greater the possibility that an adrenal adenoma is present. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 97: 881-9, 2012.

CPT Codes

82528

Contacts

Last Updated

9/24/2026