Atruchecks

About Growth hormone

What is growth hormone?

Growth hormone is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is important for growth in children, maintains body composition in adults and regulates sugar and fat metabolism. Hormones are chemical messengers used by the body to respond to internal and external influences.

The activity of hormones must be finely regulated to produce the desired physiological effect. This regulation is typically coordinated by complex interactions between several different hormones. Both excessive production and a deficiency in the production of steroid hormones can cause ill health.

Excess levels of growth hormone in children causes gigantism (increased linear growth) and in adults causes acromegaly (growth of the hands and feet, thickening of skin and deepening of voice). A growth hormone deficiency is characterised delayed development and shorter stature.

Why take the test?

This test measures the level of growth hormone in the blood and can be used to assess pituitary function and investigate conditions such as gigantism, acromegaly and growth hormone deficiency

What's tested

Hormones

How it works

Purchase your Kit

Just order a test online and get your kit delivered right to your door unless you are ordering a COVID-19 Fit to Fly test where you will be given appointment options to attend our clinics across the United Kingdom for a nose and throat swab PCR test at the checkout stage.

Take your test and post

Follow our simple instructions to take your sample and post back the enclosed prepaid envelope to our accredited lab for processing. We also offer home or workplace visits by a qualified nurse. For COVID-19 Fit to Fly tests you must attend one of our partner clinics for our trained collection officers to take your sample. You will then have the results emailed to you.