Aldosterone Test
An aldosterone test measures aldosterone, a hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps the body manage salt, fluid, and blood pressure. Clinicians often use it, alongside related markers, to help evaluate how this balance is being regulated.
About this test
Aldosterone is one of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands, the small glands that sit atop each kidney. It belongs to a signaling system that helps the body hold on to or release sodium and water while balancing potassium.
Aldosterone rarely acts alone. It sits within a chain that begins with a kidney signal and works through several steps, so clinicians frequently look at aldosterone together with a partner marker that reflects that upstream signal.
Who might consider this test?
- Symptoms such as muscle weakness, unusual fatigue, or frequent thirst sometimes prompt the conversation as well.
- The marker is a specialized one, so it is usually ordered as part of a considered workup rather than as a routine screen.
Test details
| Quest code | 17181 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
Related tests and panels
Quest resources
Additional details
What this test looks at
The aldosterone test measures how much of this adrenal hormone is present in the blood at the moment the sample is drawn. Aldosterone's role is to fine-tune the balance of sodium and potassium and, through that, the amount of fluid the body retains. When clinicians want to understand that salt-and-fluid conversation, aldosterone is one of the readings they turn to.
On its own, a single aldosterone value describes only part of the story. It reflects the hormone's output but not the upstream signal driving it, which is why a clinician often reads it against a partner marker to see whether the two are moving together or pulling in the opposite direction.
Why timing and posture matter
Aldosterone naturally rises and falls across the day and responds to whether a person is upright or lying down. Because of this, labs and clinicians pay attention to when the sample is taken and what position the body was in beforehand. Following the preparation notes an ordering clinician gives — about timing, posture, diet, and any medicines — helps the sample reflect what the clinician intends to measure.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does an aldosterone test measure?
It measures the amount of aldosterone, a hormone from the adrenal glands, in the blood. Aldosterone helps the body balance sodium, potassium, and fluid, which ties it closely to how blood pressure is regulated.
Why is aldosterone often measured with another marker?
Aldosterone sits within a signaling chain, so clinicians frequently pair it with a marker that reflects the upstream kidney signal. Reading the two together gives a fuller sense of how the balance is being managed than either alone.
Does the time of day or my body position matter for this test?
It can. Aldosterone shifts across the day and with whether you are sitting, standing, or lying down, so the timing and posture around the draw can influence the reading. Follow the instructions your ordering clinician provides.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Do I need to prepare for an aldosterone test?
Preparation varies. Certain foods and medicines, as well as timing and posture, can affect the result, so people follow whatever specific instructions their ordering clinician gives before the draw.
What does a Aldosterone test cost without insurance?
$109. Celio Health's price is a flat cash price and insurance is never billed: the required physician's order is included.