Glucagon, Plasma

Test ID: 

704232

CPT code:

82943

Synonyms:

Pancreatic Glucagon

Clinical 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.

Specimen Type:

Plasma with Trasylol®, frozen

Requested Volume: 

1 mL

Minimum Volume: 

0.5 mL

Container Type: 

Lavender-top (EDTA) tube (chilled)

Patient Preparation: 

Overnight fasting for basal levels. No isotopes administered 24 hours prior to venipuncture. Patient should not be in a stress state at time of drawing. If diabetic, patient should be in good control before specimen is drawn.

Collection:

Trasylol® kits may be ordered through the PeopleSoft system. Using a chilled 6-mL lavender-top (EDTA) tube taken from the kit, collect a whole blood specimen. Mix the specimen several times by inverting the EDTA collection tube. After removing the cap from the EDTA draw tube, take one of the sterile, Beral pipettes (from under the gray foam), and add 0.25 mL Trasylol® to the EDTA tube. Recap the EDTA tube and invert several times to mix well. Centrifuge the EDTA tube to separate the plasma from the cells, and immediately transfer the plasma into one of the brown screw-cap transfer tubes provided in the kit. There should be a “Trasylol® Added” label affixed to the brown transfer tubes. Cap and freeze the labeled transfer tube containing the EDTA plasma with Trasylol® added. To avoid delays in turnaround time when requesting multiple tests on frozen samples, please submit separate frozen specimens for each test requested.

Storage Instructions:

Freeze.

Stability Requirements:

Rejection Criteria

Sample not collected with Trasylol®; sample not submitted in tube with Trasylol label, gross hemolysis; recently administered radioisotopes; specimen not received frozen; serum, sodium citrate, or heparinized plasma specimen; lipemia