growth-hormone-tests
Reviewed
Growth hormone (GH) tests are blood tests that check if your body is making a normal amount of GH. GH controls growth and helps regulate metabolism. Because GH levels change throughout the day, a single blood test is not usually helpful. Instead, GH levels are checked using stimulation or suppression tests that involve multiple blood samples taken over a few hours. These tests help detect GH deficiency, gigantism (in children), or acromegaly (in adults).
Preparation and collection
You may need to fast (not eat or drink) for several hours before the test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- GH levels in the blood change throughout the day depending on diet and activity, so a single blood test is not usually helpful.
- Results must be interpreted by a healthcare professional; there are no universal reference intervals provided in this source.
- False positives or negatives are possible; your provider will correlate results with your symptoms and other tests.
What to do next
Your provider may order other blood tests such as an IGF-1 test or IGBP-3 test to help diagnose a GH disorder. Discuss your results and any follow-up testing or treatment options with your healthcare provider.