Acromegaly Blood Test Panel: IGF-1, Growth Hormone, Oral Glucose Suppression, and Results
Acromegaly blood testing looks for persistent overactivity of the growth hormone system. The usual first test is insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1, because...
ACTH Blood Test: High, Low, Pituitary Function, and Adrenal Results
An adrenocorticotropic hormone, or ACTH, blood test measures the pituitary signal that tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol. The result is most useful...
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH) Test: Water Balance, Diabetes Insipidus, and Results
An antidiuretic hormone blood test measures arginine vasopressin, the hormone that helps the kidneys conserve water. ADH and vasopressin are two names for the...
Central Hypothyroidism Test Panel: TSH, Free T4, Pituitary Function, and Results
Central hypothyroidism occurs when the hypothalamus or pituitary does not stimulate a structurally normal thyroid gland well enough to produce adequate thyroid hormone. The...
Copeptin Blood Test: ADH Surrogate Marker, Diabetes Insipidus, and Results
A copeptin blood test helps evaluate the body’s vasopressin system when excessive thirst, excessive urination, abnormal sodium, or a suspected water-balance disorder needs clarification....
Diabetes Insipidus Hormone Test Panel: Copeptin, ADH, Serum Osmolality, Urine Osmolality, and Results
A diabetes insipidus hormone test panel evaluates whether excessive urine output comes from inadequate vasopressin release, kidney resistance to vasopressin, excessive water intake, or...
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test: Pituitary Function, Fertility, and Results
A follicle-stimulating hormone test measures FSH, a pituitary hormone that helps regulate ovarian follicle development, estradiol production, sperm production, puberty, and reproductive function. The...
Growth Failure Hormone Test Panel: IGF-1, IGFBP-3, GH Stimulation, and Results
A growth failure hormone test panel evaluates whether a child’s slow height gain may involve the growth hormone–IGF-1 axis. The panel usually includes insulin-like...
Growth Hormone (GH) Test: High, Low, Normal Range, and Results
A growth hormone blood test measures GH, also called somatotropin, but a single result rarely answers whether production is normal. GH is released by...
Growth Hormone Stimulation Test: GH Deficiency, Peak Levels, and Results
A growth hormone stimulation test evaluates whether the pituitary can release an adequate GH surge when challenged. It is used when a child has...
Growth Hormone Suppression Test: Acromegaly, GH Levels, and Results
A growth hormone suppression test evaluates whether oral glucose can lower GH appropriately. It is used mainly when acromegaly is suspected or when biochemical...
Hypopituitarism Blood Test Panel: Pituitary Hormones, Low Levels, and Results
A hypopituitarism blood test panel evaluates whether the pituitary is producing enough signals for the adrenal glands, thyroid, gonads, growth hormone system, and water...
IGF-Binding Protein 3 (IGFBP-3) Test: Growth Hormone Function and Results
An IGF-binding protein 3 test measures IGFBP-3, the main protein that carries insulin-like growth factor 1 through the bloodstream. Because growth hormone is released...
Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Test: High, Low, Normal Range, and Growth Results
An insulin-like growth factor 1 test measures IGF-1, a hormone produced mainly in response to growth hormone from the pituitary gland. IGF-1 stays relatively...
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Test: Pituitary Function, Ovulation, Testosterone, and Results
A luteinizing hormone test measures LH, a pituitary hormone that helps regulate ovulation, testosterone production, puberty, and fertility. The number is useful only when...
Macroprolactin Test: High Prolactin, False Elevation, and Results
A macroprolactin test helps determine whether a high prolactin result is caused mainly by large prolactin complexes that are measured by the laboratory but...
Oral Glucose Growth Hormone Suppression Test: Acromegaly Screening and Results
An oral glucose growth hormone suppression test checks whether growth hormone falls after a measured glucose drink. In most people, rising blood glucose suppresses...
Oxytocin Blood Test: Hormone Levels, Function, and Results
An oxytocin blood test measures oxytocin in plasma or serum, but it is not a standard diagnostic test for bonding, autism, anxiety, sexual function,...
Pituitary Hormone Test Panel: ACTH, TSH, LH, FSH, Prolactin, GH, IGF-1, and Results
A pituitary hormone test panel evaluates several hormone systems controlled by the pituitary gland. It commonly includes ACTH with cortisol, TSH with free T4,...
Pituitary Tumor Hormone Panel: Prolactin, ACTH, GH, IGF-1, TSH, LH, FSH, and Results
A pituitary tumor hormone panel determines whether a sellar lesion is secreting excess hormone, compressing normal pituitary tissue, or both. The panel commonly measures...