Code Details for Lab and Clinical Services
ISI Order Code:
GHRH
CPT Code:
83520
Clinical Significance of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GH-RH)
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone is a 44 amino acid peptide produced primarily by the hypothalamus. It is a neurohumoral control for adenohypophyseal secretion of Growth Hormone. Other hypothalamic hormones have a stimulatory effect on pituitary hormones, but Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone has no known effect on other pituitary hormones. Somatostatin is the inhibitory counterpart of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone. Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone has structural similarities with the Secretin-Glucagon family of gastrointestinal hormones. Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone has been isolated from pancreatic Islet Cells and various cancer tumor cells.
Reference Range, Procedure, and Turnaround Time
Reference Range:
5 – 18 pg/ml
Procedure:
Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone is measured by direct EIA.
Expected Turnaround Time:
10 Business Days
Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of receipt of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering facility.Reports: Sample Report
Pre-Test Preparation Guidelines for Growth Hormone
Patient should not be on any medications that may influence pituitary secretion.
Specimen Collection Instructions
3 ml serum or EDTA plasma should be collected and separated as soon as possible. Freeze the plasma immediately after separation. Minimum specimen size is 1 ml.
Rejection Criteria: Gross hemolysis/lipemia/icteric
Special Specimen Handling and Shipping Instructions
Special Specimens:
For tumor/tissue and various fluids (i.e. CSF, peritoneal, synovial, etc.) contact the Institute for requirements and special handling.
Shipping Instructions:
Ship specimens frozen in dry ice.
Research & Scientific References
1. ML Vance. Growth-Hormone-Releasing Hormone. Clinical Chemistry 36: 415-420, 1990. 2, AM Sopwith, ES Penny, A Grossman, MO Savage, GM Besser, and LH Rees. Normal Circulating Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (hGRF) Concentrations in Patients with Functional Hypothalamic hGRF Deficiency. Clinical Endocrinology 24: 395-400, 1986