Growth hormone (GH) testing measures the level of human growth hormone in the blood. GH is a hormone made in the pituitary gland in the head. Your doctor may order one of the following tests if you have symptoms that suggest a GH abnormality:
Suppression tests are ordered:
GH stimulation tests are ordered:
To prepare for the procedure, most patients will need to:
The injection site will be cleaned. An elastic tie will be placed around the upper arm. A needle will be inserted into the vein. The blood will be collected in a vial. Once the vials are full, the needle will be removed from the skin. Pressure will be put on the puncture site.
A blood sample will be taken between 6 am and 8 am. You will be asked to drink a water and glucose (sugar) solution. The glucose should make the GH level in the blood lower. Two more blood samples are taken within one to two hours after you have consumed the solution. In each blood sample, the GH level will be measured. IGF-1 levels may also be measured since they do not vary so much.
Blood samples will be drawn five times at different intervals. A first sample for blood glucose, cortisol, and growth hormone will be taken between 6 am and 8 am. Then, insulin will be given through the IV. The insulin should make the blood glucose level go down, which should make the GH level go up. Blood samples will be collected at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes for glucose, cortisol, and growth hormone.
If the blood sugar has not dropped to a certain level after 45 minutes, a repeat dose of insulin will be given. The blood sample will be collected 75 minutes and 150 minutes later. If the blood sugar levels fall too low, a high dose of sugar will be given by IV, followed by a sugar infusion.
The blood sample will be drawn five times at different intervals. The first sample will be taken between 6 am and 8 am. Arginine or GH-releasing peptide will be given through the IV for 30 minutes. Once the arginine or GH-releasing peptide has been administered, GH-releasing hormone will be given by IV. This should stimulate the pituitary to release GH. The last four blood samples will be drawn every 30 minutes following both infusions.
You will be able to leave after the test is done.
The procedure often takes at least three hours.
There may be some minor discomfort when the needle is inserted in the skin and during the infusions. A doctor will supervise the insulin tolerance, as insulin can cause a very low blood sugar level in the blood.
RESOURCES:
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
http://www.aace.com/
The Endocrine Society
http://www.endo-society.org/
Pituitary Network Association
http://www.pituitary.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
About Kids Health
http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/
Health Canada
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/index_e.html
References:
Clemmons DR. Value of insulin-like growth factor system markers in the assessment of growth hormone status. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2007;36:109-29.
Endocrine, metabolism and diabetes tests and procedures: growth hormone test (arginine/clonidine stimulation test). University of Cincinnati Children's Hospital website. Available at: http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/info/endocrine/tests/growth-hormone.htm. Accessed May 28, 2007.
Growth hormone. Lab Tests Online website. Available at: http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/growth_hormone/test.html. Accessed December 10, 2009.
Growth hormone issues in children and adults. The Hormone Foundation website. Available at: http://www.hormone.org/Resources/upload/GHIssuesinChildrenandAdults.pdf/. Accessed December 10, 2009.
Health Topics A-Z: Growth hormone testing. University of Michigan Health System website. Available at: http://med.umich.edu/1libr/tests/testg09.htm. Accessed May 28, 2007.
Ho KK. H Deficiency Consensus Workshop Participants: Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of adults with GH deficiency II: a statement of the GH Research Society in association with the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology, Lawson wilkins society, European Society of endocrinology, Japan Endocrine Society, and Endocrine Society of Australia. Eur J Endocrinol. 2007;157:695-700.
Reiser P. Growth hormone deficiency. Human Growth Foundation website. Available at: http://bchealthguide.org/kbase/topic/medtest/hw7592/descrip.htm. Accessed May 28, 2007.
Last reviewed December 2009 by B.Gabriel Smolarz, MD, MSB
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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