Total Cortisol, Urine Creatinine Ratio Unit Converter

The total cortisol urine creatinine ratio measures the amount of cortisol in your urine relative to creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product from muscle metabolism that is excreted at a fairly constant rate, so dividing cortisol by creatinine corrects for how concentrated or dilute the urine sample is.

This ratio provides a more reliable snapshot of cortisol output than measuring urine cortisol alone, because it accounts for variations in fluid intake and urine volume. It can be measured from a spot (single) urine sample or from a full 24-hour collection.

Cortisol is the body's primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal glands. The urine cortisol creatinine ratio is most commonly used as a screening tool for conditions involving cortisol excess, such as Cushing's syndrome.

Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of each kidney. Production is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, where the pituitary gland releases ACTH to signal the adrenals to make cortisol.