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Adrenal testing Auckland — cortisol and stress hormone assessment
Functional Medicine Testing

Adrenal Testing Auckland

Ongoing fatigue, poor sleep, feeling "wired but tired," or stress that won't switch off can all trace back to how your adrenal glands are managing cortisol across the day. Our NutriPath testing panels map your cortisol rhythm and related hormone pathways — giving your Functional Medicine practitioner a clear starting point.

✓ Simple saliva or urine sample
✓ Three tiers to match your goals
✓ Results reviewed with your practitioner
Book a Consultation → Compare the Tests
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Why Test Your Adrenal Function

Your Cortisol Pattern Tells a Story

Cortisol isn't just a "stress hormone" — it follows a daily rhythm that should peak shortly after waking and steadily decline through the day.

When that rhythm is disrupted, it can show up as fatigue that doesn't improve with sleep, difficulty waking up, an afternoon energy crash, poor sleep onset, or a constant sense of being on edge.

For many people this shows up as unexplained fatigue, poor sleep, or stress that doesn't resolve with standard treatment.

Rather than guessing, adrenal testing gives your Functional Medicine practitioner objective data on how your HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis) is actually functioning — showing exactly where your cortisol rhythm sits, and whether related hormone pathways are also involved, so any support is targeted rather than generic. Testing is processed through NutriPath, an accredited integrative pathology laboratory.

This sits alongside our other Functional Medicine testing options. If low energy and detoxification seem more relevant, our Toxin & Heavy Metal Testing may be worth exploring, and if sex hormones are the main concern, our Hormone Testing page covers that in depth. All of this fits within our broader Functional Medicine services.

Compare Your Options

Compare Our Adrenal Testing Options

A quick side-by-side before the detail below. Your practitioner will help confirm the right starting point for your specific concerns.

TestSample TypeCore FocusBest Suited To
CAR — Cortisol Awakening Response Saliva (6 collections, 1 day) Your cortisol rhythm across the day, plus the critical first-hour waking spike A focused starting point for stress, fatigue and sleep concerns
EndoSTAT Dried urine (at-home) Everything CAR covers, plus the three other core hormone pathways — androgens, progesterone metabolites and a fuller glucocorticoid picture When cortisol alone doesn't explain the full symptom picture
EndoMAP Dried urine (at-home) Everything EndoSTAT covers, plus Organic Acids (metabolic & detox capacity) and Endocrine Disruptors / heavy metals Complex, unresolved, or environmentally-driven cases wanting the complete picture

Turnaround time and pricing are confirmed with your practitioner at consultation.

The Detail

What Adrenal Testing Covers

Across the three profiles, here's the range of markers your practitioner can draw on.

Adrenal testing Auckland — cortisol rhythm and HPA axis assessment at Premier Wellness

Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm

Cortisol Waking · +30min · +60min · Midday · Afternoon · Evening

Maps how cortisol should peak after waking and steadily decline through the day, and flags where that rhythm is flattened, delayed or exaggerated. Included with all three tests.

Cortisol Awakening Response

CAR Rise % · CAR Decline % · Cort/DHEAS Ratio

Captures the sharp cortisol spike in the first 30–60 minutes after waking — a distinct signal from the rest of the diurnal rhythm and a key marker of HPA axis reactivity.

DHEA & Adrenal Reserve

DHEA / DHEAS · DHEAS/Cortisol Ratio

DHEA is the adrenal's counterbalance to cortisol. This ratio is used as a marker of adrenal reserve relative to daily cortisol output. Included with all three tests.

Core Hormone Pathways

Testosterone · Androstenedione · Pregnanediol · Allopregnanolone

Adds the androgen and progesterone metabolite pathways that interact with adrenal output, included with EndoSTAT and EndoMAP.

Glucocorticoid Metabolites

Total Cortisol · Total Cortisone · Cortisol/Cortisone Ratio · Tetrahydrocortisol · Tetrahydrocortisone

A deeper look at how cortisol is being produced, converted and cleared, included with EndoSTAT and EndoMAP.

Organic Acids & Metabolic Function

Krebs Cycle Acids · Neurotransmitter Metabolites · B-Vitamin Markers

Urinary Organic Acids markers giving insight into mitochondrial energy production and nutrient status, included with EndoMAP only.

Endocrine Disruptors & Heavy Metals

BPA · PFAS (PFOA/PFOS) · Lead · Mercury · Arsenic · Cadmium

Screens for environmental chemical and metal exposure that can independently affect hormone and adrenal function, included with EndoMAP only.

What's the difference between CAR and EndoMAP?
CAR is a saliva test focused purely on your cortisol rhythm and the waking cortisol spike. EndoMAP is a dried urine test that covers the same cortisol picture in more depth, plus three other hormone pathways, organic acids, and environmental toxin exposure — it's a far broader profile, not just "more of the same test."
Choose Your Test

Adrenal Testing: The Three Options in Detail

Adrenal Stress Test

CAR — Cortisol Awakening Response

What it measures: Six saliva samples collected across a single day — at waking, 30 minutes after waking, 60 minutes after waking, midday, afternoon and evening — mapping both your full diurnal cortisol curve and the critical cortisol awakening response, plus DHEAS and the Cort/DHEAS ratio.

Because the awakening spike is regulated separately from the rest of the daily rhythm, a single morning blood or saliva reading can miss it entirely. CAR is the clearest single test for HPA axis reactivity and is usually the right starting point for stress, fatigue or sleep-related concerns.

  • SampleSaliva, 6 collections in one day
  • LabNutriPath
  • TurnaroundConfirmed at booking [TBC]
  • Best forA focused, standalone adrenal stress snapshot
Sample Report
📋 View Sample Report
Cortisol + Hormone Pathways

EndoSTAT

What it measures: A comprehensive dried urine panel covering the same cortisol and cortisone metabolite detail as CAR, plus three further foundational hormone pathways — androgens, progesterone metabolites, and a fuller glucocorticoid breakdown. A detailed hormone pathway chart maps values and metabolites to help your practitioner interpret results.

Because it pairs adrenal output with the hormone systems that interact with it, EndoSTAT suits patients whose symptoms don't fully resolve with a cortisol-only picture.

  • SampleDried urine, at-home collection
  • LabNutriPath
  • Turnaround7–10 business days [TBC]
  • Best forAdrenal function plus core hormone pathway insight
Sample Report
📋 View Sample Report
Cortisol + Hormone Pathways + OAT + Toxins

EndoMAP

What it measures: NutriPath's most advanced dried urine profile. The full EndoSTAT hormone pathway panel, plus a full Organic Acids Test (mitochondrial, neurotransmitter and gut-related markers) and an Endocrine Disruptors & Heavy Metals screen (BPA, PFAS, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium).

Because it pairs adrenal and hormone data with metabolic function and environmental exposure, EndoMAP suits complex or unresolved cases where cortisol, energy, and toxin exposure may all be part of the picture.

  • SampleDried urine, at-home collection
  • LabNutriPath
  • Turnaround7–10 business days [TBC]
  • Best forThe complete adrenal, hormone, metabolic & toxin picture
Sample Report
📋 View Sample Report
This testing is for informational and educational purposes and works alongside — not instead of — advice from your qualified healthcare provider. Results are reviewed with you by your Functional Medicine practitioner as part of a wider clinical picture, and any treatment recommendations are individualised to your health history, medications, and current circumstances.
How It Works

From Booking to Results, in Four Steps

Here's what to expect once you book adrenal testing with us.

1

Consultation

Discuss your symptoms and history with your Functional Medicine practitioner to identify the right test.

2

Sample Collection

Saliva samples across a day for CAR, or an at-home dried urine kit for EndoSTAT and EndoMAP.

3

Lab Analysis

Your sample is analysed by our testing partner NutriPath.

4

Results Review

Your practitioner walks you through the results and builds a plan tailored to what's actually elevated.

FAQs

Common Questions

Everything you need to know before booking adrenal testing.

What's the difference between CAR, EndoSTAT and EndoMAP?
CAR is a saliva test focused on your cortisol rhythm and waking cortisol spike. EndoSTAT is a dried urine test that covers the same cortisol detail plus three further hormone pathways — androgens, progesterone metabolites, and glucocorticoids. EndoMAP includes everything in EndoSTAT, plus an Organic Acids Test and an Endocrine Disruptors/Heavy Metals screen.
Do I need a blood test, or is saliva or urine enough?
No blood draw is required for any of these three tests. CAR uses saliva samples collected across a single day. EndoSTAT and EndoMAP use an at-home dried urine collection kit.
Does adrenal testing check for heavy metal or toxin exposure?
Only EndoMAP includes this. It adds an Endocrine Disruptors & Heavy Metals screen (covering BPA, PFAS, lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium) on top of the same cortisol and hormone pathway panel as EndoSTAT.
Will I get a diagnosis from this test?
No — this testing is for informational and educational purposes and works alongside, not instead of, advice from your qualified healthcare provider. Your practitioner reviews the results with you as part of a wider clinical picture.
Do you offer DUTCH testing?
We use NutriPath's EndoMAP and EndoSTAT panels rather than DUTCH — they cover the same cortisol, hormone pathway, and (for EndoMAP) organic acid and toxin markers, at a more accessible price point for our patients.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
Yes — some medications and hormone therapies can affect your results. Your practitioner will confirm any collection preparation specific to you when your kit is arranged.
Explore More

Related Pages

Overview Functional Medicine Auckland Our full Functional Medicine approach Testing All Testing Options Compare every test category Testing Toxin & Heavy Metal Testing Environmental exposure testing Testing Hormone Testing Sex hormone & HRT panels Testing Genetic Testing DNA blueprint testing Team Meet Our Team Our practitioners
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