The core check on how stress is affecting you
A focused panel measuring cortisol with the main systems stress disrupts: your thyroid, blood sugar, inflammation and key nutrients. The essential version of our stress investigation.
No referral. Best as a morning, fasted appointment.
How would you like to get tested?
Book a time
Reserve a slot at your nearest branch online, then walk straight in. Best if you want a guaranteed time.
Book nowWalk in
No appointment needed. Come through any branch, Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:00.
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Not sure which tests you need? Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you decide.
WhatsApp usWhat does the Essential panel measure?
Ten core markers covering cortisol and the main systems stress affects. All from one morning, fasted blood draw.
Stress and adrenal hormones
Cortisol (morning fasting), DHEA-S. The core stress read: cortisol with DHEA-S, the adrenal hormone it works against.
Thyroid
TSH, Free T4. Cortisol affects thyroid function, so we check the thyroid alongside it.
Blood sugar
Fasting Glucose, HbA1c. Cortisol pushes blood sugar up; these show whether stress is shifting your metabolism.
Inflammation and blood
CRP, Full Blood Count (FBC). A marker of the inflammation stress drives, with a full blood count for overall health.
Nutrients stress depletes
Magnesium, Vitamin D. Two of the nutrients stress burns through fastest, and which deepen the cycle when they run low.
Which stress panel is right for you?
| Panel | What you get | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EssentialYou are viewing | 10 core stress and cortisol markers | R2,750 | |
| Comprehensive | 19 markers: hormones, metabolism, organs | R4,950 | View → |
Three steps, no GP needed
Book a morning slot
Reserve a morning time at your branch, or walk in. No doctor's referral. Come fasted.
Quick blood draw
A nurse takes a small sample, just a few minutes. Morning and fasted gives the truest cortisol read.
Results in 2 to 5 days
A colour-coded report by marker, with a free certificate you can share with your doctor.
Who is this panel for?
Most useful if you have been under sustained pressure and want to see whether it is showing up in your body.
Burnout or chronic stress
Months of deadlines, pressure or caregiving, and you want to know the toll it is taking.
Tired but wired
Exhausted through the day yet unable to switch off or sleep properly at night.
Brain fog and low mood
Foggy thinking, a flatter mood or a shorter fuse than usual.
Stalled recovery
Training or eating well but not recovering, with stubborn weight around the middle.
Low energy or libido
Persistent fatigue, or a drop in drive and motivation you cannot explain.
A functional baseline
You want the full cortisol-and-cascade picture to work from with a practitioner.
What people say
Friendly and competent staff. Both at reception and the nurse. A much simpler process than going through doctors. Thank you ladies.
The staff at reception as well as the nurses are friendly and professional. I've also always received results timeously. I would give 10 stars if I could.
Highly highly highly recommend. The experience was painless and the practice was inviting and well kept. The report was extremely detailed and informative and I would have this as top of my list for preventive care.
Amazing experience, highly professional staff. Very reasonable prices. Highly recommend.
I cannot recommend Juliette and her team enough, friendly and kind from the get go. Bloods were drawn with minimal discomfort and the labs came back quickly.
Excellent experience at Epicentre. The staff were professional, kind, and took time to explain everything clearly. The facility was clean, booking was easy, and I did not feel rushed.
What this panel does not do
This is a screen that shows whether stress is leaving a measurable mark on your body. It is a starting point for a conversation, not a diagnosis.
- A single morning cortisol is a snapshot, not a full day's rhythm or a saliva curve.
- It does not diagnose conditions such as Cushing's or Addison's on its own; unusual results are followed up with your doctor.
- It does not measure or diagnose a mental-health condition; it looks at the physical systems stress affects.
- Results are meant to inform a discussion with a registered practitioner who can read them alongside your history.
Quick answers
Three walk-in labs
Durban
Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 16:00
Johannesburg
Mon to Fri, 08:30 to 16:00
Round out the picture
Medically reviewed by Dr Samantha Naidoo, MB ChB, FCP (SA), Medical Director at Epicentre Walk-In Labs. Reviewed 2 June 2026. Epicentre Aids Risk Management (Pty) Ltd provides diagnostic laboratory testing and does not provide diagnoses, treatment or prescriptions to the public; results are intended to inform discussions with a registered healthcare practitioner.
See what stress is doing to your body
No doctor's referral, results in 2 to 5 working days. Book a morning, fasted slot, or message us if you are not sure where to start.