Vasoactive intestinal peptide test

A blood sample is needed.

You should not eat or drink anything for 4 hours 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 test is used to measure the VIP level in the blood. A very high level is usually caused by a VIPoma . This is an extremely rare tumor that releases VIP. VIP is a substance found in cells throughout the body. The highest levels are normally found in cells in the nervous system and gut. VIP has many functions,…

Normal values should be less than 75 pg/mL (22.2 pmol/L). People with VIP-secreting tumors usually have values 3 to 10 times above the normal range. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the…

A higher-than-normal level, along with symptoms of watery diarrhea and flushing, may be a sign of a VIPoma. Moderately elevated levels can be caused by other diseases of the gut, including irritation of the gut lining and decreased blood flow in the gut.

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. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include: Excessive…

Öberg K. Neuroendocrine tumors and related disorders. In: Melmed S, Auchus, RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology . 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 45. Siddiqi HA, Rabinowitz S, Axiotis CA . Laboratory diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic disorders. In:…