Feeling wired but tired, struggling with energy crashes, or wondering if chronic stress might be affecting your health and hormone balance?
Understand your body's stress response with our Cortisol Blood Test. Often called the 'stress hormone', cortisol plays a crucial role in energy regulation, immune function, and how your body responds to daily challenges. This test helps identify if stress, fatigue, or mood issues might be linked to cortisol imbalances.
You will be emailed a referral to take to your local collection centre. If you ever have any questions, we're here to help.
4k+ Collection Locations
Personalised Reports
Early Detection
Private health tests
How It Works
Getting your health measured shouldn't be hard! We're here to help you every step of the way.
1
Order a test
Order the private test that suits you and your goals. After ordering, you will receive your referral by email.
2
Collect the sample
Attend one of our 4000+ partner collection centres throughout Australia. Search locations.
3
Receive your results
View all your lab results in your secure health dashboard. Easy!
Testimonials
What Our Customers Say
4.9
Average Rating
2,500+Customers Tested
90,000+Individual Biomarkers
O
Olga B.
New South Wales
Convenient
Getting a referral was easy. Laverty pathology accepted it. Bloody Good offers an affordable and convenient way to check essential blood markers.
hs-CRP Blood Test
A
Adam O.
ACT
Simple health checks in my control
I didn't know that private blood tests were an option. Tried this platform as the packages suited what I wanted for a good price. Easy to follow instructions, and super quick results. Platform provides more information than my gp's ever have on the tests and what the results meant. Would like more clinics to be able to test at (specifically Capital Pathology) but there is a decent network. Will continue to use.
The Performance Check
M
Marita S.
Queensland
Bloody good test
Very comprehensive tests that have given me a good picture of my overall health.
The Bloody Good Test
L
Lukas C.
NSW
Quick, easy, hassle free
Excellent service, quick, easy, hassle free, can recommend.
Testosterone Free/Total + SHBG
A
ABDUL S.
QLD
Amazingly quick and efficient
Very easy to use. Love that it stores your blood tests.
The Performance Test
A
Andre D.
QLD
5 Stars
Efficient and easy to use
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)
W
Wayne
NSW
5 Stars
Extremely helpful company
Calcium Blood Test
"I'm a little biased as I work here! However, I love that The Bloody Good Test tracks my health over time. After turning 40, I wanted to make sure I wasn't going to drop dead from something basic I should have known about earlier. Measuring all my core biomarkers each year gives me peace of mind my health is on the right track"
Cameron SmithHead of Ecommerce, Brisbane
Overview
Cortisol is your body's built-in alarm system and energy manager rolled into one. Think of it as your internal emergency response coordinator that springs into action whenever you face physical or emotional stress. Produced by your adrenal glands, this essential hormone follows a natural daily rhythm - rising in the early morning to help you wake up and tackle the day, then gradually declining toward evening to prepare you for restful sleep. When working properly, cortisol helps regulate blood sugar, reduce inflammation, control blood pressure, and keep your metabolism humming along smoothly.
However, chronic stress can throw this delicate system off balance, leading to either too much or too little cortisol production. Elevated levels from ongoing stress can leave you feeling "wired but tired," cause stubborn weight gain around your midsection, disrupt sleep patterns, and affect your mood and memory. On the flip side, insufficient cortisol can result in severe fatigue, low blood pressure, and difficulty handling even minor daily stressors. Our cortisol test captures your levels at a specific moment in time, helping you understand whether your stress response system is functioning optimally or could benefit from some targeted support.
Symptoms
Essential for anyone experiencing chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression, or difficulty managing stress. Important for individuals with unexplained weight gain, frequent infections, or blood sugar irregularities. Valuable for those with suspected adrenal disorders, chronic stress conditions, or anyone wanting to assess their stress response system's health.
Questions
Cortisol follows a natural daily rhythm, peaking in the morning and declining throughout the day. Testing at the wrong time can lead to misinterpretation of results.
Chronic stress, Cushing's syndrome, certain medications (especially steroids), intense exercise, caffeine, and some medical conditions can elevate cortisol levels.
Low cortisol may suggest adrenal insufficiency, chronic fatigue syndrome, burnout, or secondary adrenal problems related to pituitary function.
Yes, stress management techniques, regular sleep schedule, moderate exercise, meditation, adequate nutrition, and social support can help optimize cortisol levels.
High cortisol promotes fat storage, especially around the abdomen, increases appetite for high-calorie foods, and can interfere with metabolism and muscle maintenance.
Yes, caffeine can temporarily raise cortisol levels. Avoid coffee, tea, and other caffeinated beverages for at least 4 hours before testing.
Dr. Vu Tran Bloody Good’s Chief Medical Officer
Biomarkers
Cortisol
How to prepare
Timing is crucial for accurate results. Morning cortisol (8-9 AM) measures peak levels; afternoon cortisol (3-4 PM) assesses daily rhythm. Follow specific timing instructions from your healthcare provider. Avoid intense exercise, stress, and caffeine before testing. Fasting not required but may be recommended for morning tests.
After the test
Consult with a healthcare provider experienced in hormone health and stress management. Abnormal results may require additional testing. Treatment focuses on stress management, lifestyle modifications, and addressing underlying causes. Follow-up testing helps monitor treatment effectiveness.
Your test results will be available in your private dashboard. If there are any urgent issues, we'll let you know so you can follow up with your health professional.
Understanding results
Normal ranges vary by time of day. Morning cortisol: 140-700 nmol/L; Afternoon cortisol: 80-350 nmol/L; Evening cortisol: <280 nmol/L. High levels may indicate Cushing's syndrome, chronic stress, or certain medications. Low levels might suggest adrenal insufficiency, chronic fatigue, or burnout. Results should be interpreted with symptoms and time of collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most collection centres accept walk-ins. Some may require a booking - check details when you click on your chosen location.
If your test needs fasting, we’ll include that in your instructions after you order. Fasting usually means no food for 8–12 hours, but water is fine.
Just your pathology referral form (we email it to you)
Of course. Just maybe don’t bring the friend who faints at the sight of blood.
They’re the highly trained professionals who take your blood sample - with a steady hand and a sharp needle. They love blood, but don’t worry… they’re not vampires. Just legends who make blood tests quick, clean, and (almost) painless.
Some of our tests include Urine, Stool, Saliva and more. Each test will have a clear description on what sample you will need to give and instructions on how.
