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Test ID FIRGH Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GH-RH)

Method Name

Direct Radioimmunoassay (RIA)

Reporting Name

Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone

Specimen Type

Varies

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Serum

Draw blood in a plain, red-top or serum gel tube(s). Separate immediately and send 3 mL of serum frozen in a plastic vial.

Note:     1. Indicate serum on request form.

             2. Label specimen appropriately (serum).

 

 

Plasma

Draw blood in a lavender-top (EDTA) tube(s). Separate immediately and send 3 mL of EDTA plasma frozen in a plastic vial.

Note:     1.  Indicate plasma on request form.

             2. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

 

Patient preparation

            Patient should not be on any medications that may influence pituitary secretion.

Specimen Minimum Volume

1.0 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Varies Frozen 365 days

Clinical Information

Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone is a 44 amino acid peptide produced primarily by the hypothalamus. It is a neurohumoral control for adenohypophyseal secretion of Growth Hormone. Other hypothalamic hormones have a stimulatory effect on pituitary hormones, but Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone has no known effect on other pituitary hormones. Somatostatin is the inhibitory counterpart of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone. Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone has structural similarities with the Secretin-Glucagon family of gastrointestinal hormones. Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone has been isolated from pancreatic islet cells and various cancer tumor cells.

Reference Values

Levels of IR-GH-RH

  Baseline range:  5 - 18 pg/mL

Levels in GH-RH Dysfunction:

  Patients with acromegaly:  up to 200 pg/mL

  Patients with small cell lung carcinoma:  up to 50 pg/mL

  GH-RH secreting tumors:  200 -10,000 pg/mL

 

This test was performed using a kit that has not been cleared or approved by the FDA and is designated as research use only.

 

The analytic performance characteristics of this test have been determined by Inter Science Institute. This test is not intended for diagnosis or patient management decisions without confirmation by other medically established means.

 

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

5 - 7 days

Performing Laboratory

Inter Science Institute

Test Classification

This test was performed using a kit that has not been cleared or approved by the FDA and is designated as research use only. The analytic performance characteristics of this test have been determined by Inter Science Institute. This test is not intended for diagnosis or patient management decisions without confirmation by other medically established means.

CPT Code Information

83519

NY State Approved

No