HGH Testing

There are various test for Human growth hormone (HGH) testing like hair follicle, blood , saliva, urine are used to test. Growth hormone test is used when there are symptoms of abnormal growth of HGH or to evaluate pituitary function. Periodic growth hormone measurement is taken only on those people who are under radiation treatment for any disease like cancer or leukemia because these radiations affect the brain which can affect the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, thus affecting growth.

Growth hormone test identifies the measurement of the level of growth hormone and gives the severity of your condition to your doctor. This measurement  helps in finding the causes for abnormal hormone production. There are 2 test Stimulation or Suppression to track growth hormone

1. Stimulation Test: It is used to diagnose hypopituitarism. In this test you have to fast for 10-12 hours and then a sample of blood is taken out from you. In medical supervision you are given a intravenous solution of insulin or arginine. Then blood samples are taken at a regular interval to see that the pituitary gland is stimulated to produce the require amount of growth hormone.
2. Suppression Test: In addition to diagnose hypopituitarism, it can identify and locate pituitary tumors. It has same process as in stimulating test but after the blood is drawn they give the patient to drink glucose. After that blood samples are taken at regular intervals and then we see if your pituitary gland is sufficiently suppressed by the dose of glucose.

There are other tests which reflect pituitary functions which should pe taken before growth hormone test.

The growth hormone test is taken when a child has following symptoms:

1. His growth rate slows down in early childhood and looks small compared to others.
2. X-rays show delayed bone development
3. Low thyroid levels can also cause slow growth rate

Once growth hormone symptom is detected then doctor may use stimulation test to confirm the diagnose to monitor the severity of your condition and then if applicable your doctor will give you prescription of  taking which supplement according to your level of growth hormone.

Stimulation test is taken in adults who have symptoms of growth hormone deficiency or hypopituitarism such as decreased bone density, adverse lipid changes and reduce in immunity.

Suppression test means that if your growth hormone level is higher then they should be then it means you have symptoms of acromegaly and your other hormone are controlled then it is producing more growth hormone which can cause complications.

Stimulation test means that if your growth hormone level is lower then normal then you have symptoms of growth hormone deficiency.

Pituitary tumors can also cause to produce excess of growth hormone which may also cause deficiencies. It may also cause other pituitary hormones to get affected also.

There are certain factors that affect growth hormone testing :

1. Stress, blood sugar level and exercise
2. Drugs  that increase growth hormone eg. arginine, dopamine, estrogens
3. Drugs  that decrease growth hormone eg.. orticosteroids and phenothiazine
4. Exposure to radioactive radiation before test.