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Test Code hGH human Growth Hormone (hGH)

Important Note

This test may be affected by biotin interference. Patients on high dose biotin (5mg/day or more) should not have samples drawn until at least 24 hours after the last biotin administration.

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Serum

Preferred Specimen: Red Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Serum/Gold Top, Plasma/Mint Top

Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions

UCMC Onsite Instructions: 

  • Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately. 

 

UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions: 

  • Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
  • Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
  • Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
  • Samples must be sent frozen at -20oC.

Rejection Criteria

  • Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits. 
  • Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
  • Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours

Reference Values

Test

Age (Years)

Sex

Reference Range

hGH

0-10

Female

0.120 - 7.79 ng/mL
hGH 11-17 Female 0.123 - 8.05 ng/mL
hGH 21-77 Female 0.126 - 9.88 ng/mL

 

Test

Age (Years)

Sex

Reference Range

hGH

0-10

Male

0.094 - 6.29 ng/mL
hGH 11-17 Male 0.077 - 10.8 ng/mL
hGH 21-77 Male <0.030 - 2.47 ng/mL

Critical Values

Analyte

Unit

Low

High

Age

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

CPT Codes

83003

LOINC Codes

2963-7

Volume

Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL

Specimen Stability

Storage Temperature

Stability

Room Temperature

8 hours

Refrigerated

1 Day

Frozen

1 month

 

Note: Freeze only once

Collection Instructions

Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures. 

 

Test Components

human Growth Hormone

Clinical Indications

The anterior pituitary secretes human growth hormone (hGH) in response to exercise, deep sleep, hypoglycemia, and protein ingestion. hGH stimulates hepatic insulin-like growth factor-1 and mobilizes fatty acids from fat deposits to the liver. Hyposecretion of hGH causes dwarfism in children. Hypersecretion causes gigantism in children or acromegaly in adults.

 

Because hGH levels in normal and diseased populations overlap, hGH suppression and stimulation tests are needed to evaluate conditions of hGH excess and deficiency; random hGH levels are inadequate.

Methodology

Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics)

Additional Information

Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other
findings.

Turnaround Time

Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory. 

 

STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test

Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours

Testing Schedule:  24/7

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Growth Hormone Provocative Test

Growth Hormone Stimulation

hGH (Human Growth Hormone)

Human Growth Hormone

Somatotrophic Hormone

Somatotropin

Last Review Date

06/19/2024

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