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Gastrin

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6036, Beaker: XGAST, Warde: GAS

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

The patient must be fasting for a minimum of 12 hours prior to specimen collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): One Gold-top SST tube.
Also acceptable: One plain Red-top tube.

Critical frozen. Place specimen on ice and immediately deliver to the Laboratory for processing. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

Rejection Criteria

• Grossly hemolyzed specimens.
• Grossly lipemic specimens.
• Grossly icteric specimens.
• EDTA plasma
• Non-frozen Serum
• Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. Let specimen clot 30-60 minutes then centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Transfer serum to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below) immediately.

Transport: 1.0 mL serum, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.5 mL)

 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Unacceptable
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 14 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Warde Medical Laboratory, Ann Arbor, MI.

Performed

Tuesday, Friday.
Results available in 3-6 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescent Assay.

Interpretation

Serum gastrin levels are increased in patients with pernicious anemia and in the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Hypergastrinemia may be observed after gastroscopy, in non-fasting individuals, in diabetic patients taking insulin, in patients with pheochromocytoma or cancer of the colon, pancreas, breast or lung.

Clinical Utility

Gastrin assays are used to aid in the diagnosis of Zollinger-Ellison tumors (gastrinomas) and other causes of hypergastrinemia.

Gastrin is a gastrointestinal hormone that stimulates the release of hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and intrinsic factor and increases the motility of the antrum of the stomach. In fasting patients, gastrin levels are usually less than 100 pg/mL. Gastrin levels may be increased by as much as 1,000-fold in perniciaous anemia and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Increased serum gastrin levels are also associated with pyloric obstruction, after vagotomy, in the "retained antrum" syndrome, in some patients with common peptic ulcer disease and after administration of drugs that inhibit acid secretion.

"Provocative " tests (e.g., secretion challenge or standard "Lundh" meal) aid in the differential diagnosis between Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and patients with hypergastrinemia without gastrinoma. In the secretion challenge test greater than 95% of gastrinoma patients have gastrin levels above basal levels (a rise of at least 200 pg/mL).

CPT Codes

82941
LOINC:  2333-3

Contacts

Last Updated

10/2/2023