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; cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART); chromogranin A (CgA); chromogranin B (CgB).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
Chromogranin B < 150 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 and CgB are 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.
