Test Category: Biochemistry
Investigation Name:Gut Hormone Screen
Intro:
The only hormones measured by the Gut Hormone Laboratory are: Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP); pancreatic polypeptide (PP); gastrin; pancreatic glucagon (PG); somatostatin; chromogranin A (CgA).Suspected gastrinoma/somatostatinoma or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: hypergastrinaemia, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, steatorrhoea, mixed endocrinopathy VIPoma: watery diarrhoea, hypokalaemia, achlorhydria, hypotension and flushing/vasodilation Glucagonoma: hyperglycaemia refractory to insulin, skin lesions, diarrhoea and stomatitis.
Pathology Laboratory:Clinical Chemistry/ Biochemistry
Requestable Seperately?No
Part of Profile:VIP/GIP
Minimum Sample Volume:6 mL
Expected Turnaround Time:5 weeks
Test Code:GUTS
Sample Type:
EDTA Tube (Purple top)Complex Reference Range:VIP < 30 pmol/L
PP < 300 pmol/L
Gastrin < 40 pmol/L
Glucagon < 50 pmol/L
Somatostatin < 150 pmol/L
Chromogranin A < 60 pmol/L
Collection Conditions / Other Information:Fasting samples into 2 x EDTA tubes. Transport without delay to the laboratory.
Must be HAND DELIVERED to CLINICAL CHEMISTRY for immediate sample processing.
LAB INSTRUCTIONS: Centrifuge the blood within 15 minutes of venepuncture (this may be extended to 30 minutes if only CgA required). Separate on receipt into aliquot tube, freeze plasma at -20°C .
Transport frozen minimum 3mL plasma required.
Reference Laboratory Details:Dept of Endocrinology, Charing Cross Hospital,Fulham Palace Road, London,W6 8RF. Tel: 0203 3135914
Referred to Another Laboratory?Yes
Further information:Visible haemolysis invalidates the result. Delay in separation & freezing invalidates the result. For gastrin measurement, H2 blockers should be stopped for 72h and Omeprazole for two weeks, before blood is taken.
