Glucagon, Plasma

Casandra

Casandra Test Code LC50322Version 1 (DRAFT)

Performing Lab

Lab LabcorpLab Test ID 004622CPT Code 82943

Also known as: Pancreatic Glucagon

Clinical Use

Order Test

Use

For use (1) when considering a glucagon-secreting tumor of the pancreas, (2) in the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus and other carbohydrate metabolism disorders, and (3) in the diagnosis of glucagon deficiency in patients with hypoglycemia.

Special Instructions

Patients should discontinue biotin supplements 72 hours prior to sample collection to avoid interference. Ensure that the patient is not in a stress state, and for diabetic patients, they should be under good control. It is recommended to check possible biotin supplementation with all patients indicated for this test.

Limitations

This test may exhibit interference from high doses of biotin (vitamin B7/B8), causing inaccurate results. Glucagon levels may also be affected by physiological stress unrelated to hypoglycemia, such as surgery, trauma, sepsis, or burns. This can lead to elevated glucagon levels not associated with a true glucagonoma. Non-frozen, lipemic, hemolyzed, or icteric samples, as well as non-EDTA samples, are not suitable for analysis.

Test Details

Methodology

Immunoassay (EIA)

Biomarkers

Glucagon

Analyte

Glucagon, Plasma • Concentration / Level • Quantitative (Continuous) (e.g., copies/mL, % expression)

LOINC Codes

Order Codes

2338-2

Result Codes

2338-2

Result Turnaround Time

3-10 days

Specimen

Plasma

Volume

1 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Container

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube (chilled)

Collection Instructions

Separate plasma and transfer specimen to a plastic transport tube before freezing. For multiple tests, submit separate frozen specimens for each test.

Patient Preparation

Overnight fasting for basal levels. Patient should not be in a stress state at time of drawing. If diabetic, patient should be in good control before specimen is drawn.