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HelpTest ID HYPOG Hypoglycemic Agent Screen, Serum
Specimen Required
Collection Container/Tube: Red top (serum gel/SST are not acceptable)
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Forms
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Therapeutics Test Request (T831) with the specimen.
Useful For
Evaluation of suspected insulinoma characterized by hypoglycemia and increased serum insulin concentration
Detecting drugs that stimulate insulin secretion
Drugs detected by this procedure are:
-The first-generation sulfonylureas: chlorpropamide (Diabinese), tolazamide, and tolbutamide (Orinase)
-The second-generation sulfonylureas: glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), and glyburide (Glibenclamide)
-The meglitinides: repaglinide (Prandin) and nateglinide (Starlix)
-The thiazolidinediones: pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia)
This test is not intended for therapeutic drug monitoring but could be used to monitor compliance.
Method Name
Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)
Reporting Name
Hypoglycemic Agent Screen, SSpecimen Type
Serum RedSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum Red | Frozen (preferred) | 28 days |
| Refrigerated | 28 days | |
| Ambient | 7 days |
Clinical Information
The metabolic and hormonal profiles of insulinoma and sulfonylurea-induced hypoglycemia are identical. Therefore, in the evaluation of the hypoglycemic patient, the possible use of oral hypoglycemic agents as the cause for low blood glucose and elevated serum insulin must be considered. Absence of hypoglycemic drugs in serum during an episode of low blood glucose should be demonstrated before considering pancreatic exploration for suspected insulinoma.
Reference Values
Negative
Screening cutoff concentrations
Chlorpropamide: 100 ng/mL
Glimepiride: 20 ng/mL
Glipizide: 5 ng/mL
Glyburide: 5 ng/mL
Nateglinide: 5 ng/mL
Pioglitazone: 20 ng/mL
Repaglinide: 5 ng/mL
Rosiglitazone: 20 ng/mL
Tolazamide: 50 ng/mL
Tolbutamide: 20 ng/mL
Note: The report indicates a specific drug is positive if that drug is detected at a concentration greater than the cutoff. The test cutoff listed for each drug is lower than the concentration that will cause increased insulin and decreased glucose.
Cautions
Proper interpretation requires that the specimen be collected during or close to the time of a hypoglycemic episode. Drugs will not be detected (and are not likely to be present) if blood is drawn when blood glucose is normal in nondiabetic patients.
All drugs that stimulate insulin secretion undergo extensive metabolism before excretion. The parent drug is therefore not present in urine. Blood serum is the specimen of choice for detecting use of the hypoglycemic drugs: urine or plasma is not an acceptable specimen.
This screen does not include the first-generation sulfonylurea acetohexamide.
Other drugs that do not induce hypoglycemia, thiazolidinediones such as troglitazone and lobeglitazone, and are designed to make tissues more sensitive to insulin are not included in this screen test.
Drugs that lower blood glucose through mechanisms not related to stimulation of insulin secretion, such as acarbose, metformin, and miglitol, are not included in this screen test.
Day(s) Performed
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Report Available
2 to 8 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
80377
G0480-(if appropriate)