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Glucagon

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB6038, Beaker: XGLUC, Mayo: GLP

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• Patient must be fasting prior to specimen collection.
• Pre-chill the collection tube in a refrigerator prior to collection.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One pre-chilled Lavender-top EDTA tube.

Collect specimen on ice. Send specimen to Laboratory for processing, on ice, immediately after collection.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. After collection, chill tube on wet ice for 10 minutes, then centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Immediately transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: 2.0 mL plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.45 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Grossly hemolyzed specimens.

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

Inpatient Specimen Preparation

Critical frozen. Deliver specimen, ON ICE, to the Laboratory immediately after collection.

In-Lab Processing

Critical frozen. After collection, chill tube on wet ice for 10 minutes, then centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Immediately transfer plasma to a plastic transport tube and freeze (-20°C/-4°F or below).

Transport: 2.0 mL plasma, frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below). (Minimum: 0.45 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): 90 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 Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday, Wednesday.
Results available in 3-7 days.

Reference Range

By report.

Test Methodology

Immunoassay Following Extraction.

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

Glucagon plays an antagonistic role to that of insulin in the regulation of blood glucose levels. In response to increased glucose utilization, glucagon helps restore circulating levels by stimulating hepatic gluconeogenesis. Low blood glucose levels caused by fasting will elevate glucagon, while high glucose levels will decrease glucagon. Stress, exercise and certain amino acids will also alter normal values. Decreased glucagon levels have been seen in patients without alpha cells, in advanced chronic pancreatitis, beta andrenergic blockage and may be associated with long-term sulfonylurea therapy. Abnormally high levels (about 500 times the average fasting levels) may be found in autonomously secreting alpha cell tumors (glucagonomas). Increased glucagon levels have also been associated with cases of hyperglycemia due to Cushing's syndrome, acromegaly, and multiple endocrine tumor syndrome.

CPT Codes

82943

Contacts

Last Updated

10/2/2023