What tests are needed?
A one-off measurement of blood cortisol is not good enough to diagnose Addison's disease. It may be low from time to time in normal people. Therefore, if Addison's disease is suspected, a special stimulation test is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis. The adrenal gland can be 'stimulated' by an injection of a drug similar to ACTH. If the adrenals are normal, then blood samples taken shortly after this injection should show a rise in cortisol. If you have Addison's disease you do not have a rise in blood cortisol following the injection. Also, a blood test can sometimes detect antibodies which cause auto-immune Addison's disease.
(Other tests may be needed if it is thought that you have Addison's disease caused by other conditions such as TB, or a secondary cause of a low ACTH and cortisol level.)
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