Glucagon
Test Summary
The glucagon assay is useful primarily when considering a glucagon-secreting tumor of the pancreas. Glucagonomas cause an unusual but characteristic syndrome consisting of a rash, mild diabetes, weight loss and hypoamninoacidemia. Measurement of plasma glucagon confirms the diagnosis; glucagon levels are very high in the setting of glucagonoma.
Aliases
- N/A
Specimen Collection
Special Instructions
N/A
Preferred Specimen
2 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
Collect EDTA plasma, invert several times to mix, centrifuge, and immediately transfer the plasma into a clean, plastic screw-cap vial and freeze. There should be no delay in freezing as the analyte is very unstable and samples must be kept frozen until testing.
Patient Preparation
Overnight fasting is required
Storage
Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
-70 degrees Celsius
Specimen Stability
- Room temperature: Unacceptable
- Refrigerated: 2 hours
- Frozen: 28 days
Limitations
N/A
Other Acceptable Specimens
N/A
Unacceptable Specimens
Samples received refrigerated, gross hemolysis
Order Code
GLUCAG
EPIC (Premier) Code
LAB217
Includes
N/A
CPT Code
- 82943
Billing Code
- 700000
CPT Statement
Methodology
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Immunoassay (ELISA)
FDA Status
FDA Approved
Physician Attestation of Informed Consent
N/A
Testing Laboratory
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano CA, 92675
33608 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano CA, 92675
Reference Range
11-78 pg/mL
Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time
Monday; Report available: 7 - 14 days
Specimen Collection
Special Instructions
N/A
Preferred Specimen
2 mL plasma collected in an EDTA (lavender-top) tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Instructions
Collect EDTA plasma, invert several times to mix, centrifuge, and immediately transfer the plasma into a clean, plastic screw-cap vial and freeze. There should be no delay in freezing as the analyte is very unstable and samples must be kept frozen until testing.
Patient Preparation
Overnight fasting is required
Storage
Plastic screw-cap vial
Transport Temperature
-70 degrees Celsius
Specimen Stability
- Room temperature: Unacceptable
- Refrigerated: 2 hours
- Frozen: 28 days
Limitations
N/A
Other Acceptable Specimens
N/A
Unacceptable Specimens
Samples received refrigerated, gross hemolysis
Result Information
Methodology
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Immunoassay (ELISA)
Testing Laboratory
N/A
Reference Range
11-78 pg/mL
Setup Schedule / Expected Turnaround Time
Monday; Report available: 7 - 14 days