IGF-1 Somatomedin C Test

IGF stands for Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and it helps to promote the normal growth of bone and tissues. The test is ordered to evaluate the levels of IGF-1 in the blood. The IGF-1 works with growth hormone (GH) and it tracks GH excesses and deficiencies throughout the day. This helps to keep track of GH levels and is often used to evaluate GH excess or GH deficiency. The IGF-1-Somatomedin C test may also be ordered with other pituitary hormone tests such as prolactin or FSH and LH used to diagnose the dysfunction in pituitary glands. This test is broadly used to keep track of the GH factor as it becomes unstable throughout the day.

This test does not require any special preparation. As this is a blood sample test your doctor might ask you to fast at least 12 hours before the test. This will regulate the GH and IGF-1 levels in the body to minimum and maximum and can be easily evaluated during the results. If you are on any medications then your doctor should know about it. The medications might interfere with the actual results of IGF-1 test.

The test is useful to help evaluate Growth Hormone deficiency. Although the test is of IGF-1 factor but it helps to get additional information about GH. This test also proves helpful to get follow-up on other hormone tests. Further this test helps to evaluate: Pituitary Gland function, Excess growth hormone, Rare conditions like acromegaly and gigantism, To identify whether the tumor was successfully removed, The GH insensitivity.

The IGF-1-Somatomedin C test follows a simple and painless procedure i.e. blood sample test. Your doctor will ask you to be present at the clinic at given schedule. There will be a nurse who will guide you and take the blood sample from your vein. The whole process takes less than half an hour and all you will feel is a sharp pinch. The nurse will draw sufficient blood from your arm vein and cover the injected area with medical cotton. They will clean the area with an antiseptic liquid to kill the infectious bacteria on the arm.