Growth hormone test

A blood sample is needed.

Your health care provider may give you special instructions about what you can or cannot eat before the test.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

This hormone may be checked if a person's growth pattern is abnormal or if another condition is suspected. Too much growth hormone (GH) can cause abnormally increased growth patterns. In adults, this is called acromegaly . In children, it is called gigantism . Too little growth hormone can cause a slow or flat rate of…

The normal range for GH level is typically: For adult males -- 0.05 to 3 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) For adult females -- 0.05 to 8 ng/mL For children -- varies with age and sex, ask your provider what is normal for your child GH is released in pulses. The size and duration of the pulses varies with time of day,…

A high level of GH may indicate: Acromegaly in adults. (A special test is done to confirm this diagnosis.) Gigantism in children. This is abnormal growth due to excess GH. (A special test is done to confirm this diagnosis.) GH resistance. Pituitary tumor . A low level of GH may indicate: Slow growth noticed in infancy…

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may…

Ali O. Hyperpituitarism, tall stature, and overgrowth syndromes. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics . 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 576. Cooke DW, Divall SA, Radovick S. Normal and aberrant growth in children. In: Melmed S, Auchus…