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Growth hormone (GH)

Hormones & Fertility · also called Somatotropin, hGH

What it measures

Growth hormone is released by the pituitary in pulses and drives growth mainly through IGF-1. Random levels are of limited value, so GH is measured in stimulation or suppression tests.

Specimen and preparation

Specimen: Serum or lithium-heparin plasma
Tube: Gold top
Preparation: Fasting, rested sample; dynamic tests follow specific protocols.

Reference range

Group	Range
Adult male (random)	<3 ng/mL
Adult female (random)	<8 ng/mL
After 75 g OGTT (normal)	<1 (<0.4 sensitive assays) ng/mL

Reference ranges differ between laboratories, methods and populations. Always use the range printed on your own lab report.

Causes of high values

Acromegaly and gigantism
Sleep, exercise and stress
Starvation and anorexia
Poorly controlled diabetes
Kidney failure

Causes of low values

GH deficiency (short stature in children)
Hypopituitarism
Obesity
Hypothyroidism

Method

Chemiluminescent immunoassay

Good to know

Failure to suppress GH during an OGTT confirms acromegaly; IGF-1 is the preferred screening test.

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