

ACTH is normally highest in the early morning (between 6 a.m. When cortisol levels fall, ACTH levels normally rise.īoth ACTH and cortisol levels change throughout the day. When cortisol levels rise, ACTH levels normally fall. Cortisol is needed for life, so its levels in the blood are closely controlled. In turn, the adrenal glands then make a hormone called cortisol, which helps your body manage stress. An adrenocorticotropic hormone test measures the level of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood to check for problems with the pituitary gland and adrenal glands.ĪCTH is made in the pituitary gland in response to the release of another hormone, called corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), by the hypothalamus.
