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...
Prolactin Blood Test: High, Low, Normal Range, Pituitary Tumor, and Results
A prolactin blood test measures a hormone made mainly by the pituitary gland. Prolactin supports breast development and milk production, but it also affects...
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Test: Pituitary-Thyroid Axis and Results
A thyroid-stimulating hormone test measures TSH, the pituitary signal that tells the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormone. It is the most common first...
Adiponectin Blood Test: Low Levels, Insulin Resistance, and Results
An adiponectin blood test measures a hormone made mainly by fat cells that helps the body respond to insulin, use fatty acids, and regulate...
Amylin Blood Test: Pancreatic Hormone, Glucose Control, and Results
An amylin blood test measures a pancreatic hormone released from beta cells alongside insulin. Amylin helps limit the rise in blood glucose after eating...
C-Peptide Blood Test: High, Low, Normal Range, Diabetes, and Results
A C-peptide blood test shows how much insulin your pancreas is making. Beta cells release insulin and C-peptide in equal amounts when they split...
Fasting Insulin Test: High Levels, Normal Range, Insulin Resistance, and Metabolic Health
A fasting insulin test measures the insulin circulating after a period without calories, usually 8 to 12 hours. It can show how hard the...
Gastrin Blood Test: High Levels, Stomach Acid, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, and Results
A gastrin blood test measures a hormone that tells the stomach to produce acid. It is mainly ordered when doctors suspect Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a...
Ghrelin Blood Test: Hunger Hormone, High and Low Levels, and Results
A ghrelin blood test measures a stomach-derived hormone involved in hunger, meal timing, growth hormone release, glucose regulation, and energy balance. Ghrelin usually rises...
Glucagon Blood Test: High, Low, Normal Range, and Glucose Control
A glucagon blood test measures a pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose when it begins to fall. Alpha cells release glucagon during fasting, exercise,...
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Test: Incretin Hormone, Diabetes, and Results
A glucagon-like peptide-1 test measures GLP-1, a short-lived gut hormone released after food reaches the intestine. GLP-1 helps the pancreas release insulin when glucose...