Arginine Infusion Test

Indication: This test determines whether the pitiutary gland produces normal amounts of growth hormone and assesses patients for growth hormone deficiency.

Procedure:

1. Patient N.P.O. after midnight
2. Insert saline lock into peripheral vein
3. Obtain blood samples for baseline serum growth hormone (red top tubes)
4. Inject 0.5g / kg (up to 30g in total of arginine hcl in 100ml saline within 30 minutes
5. Inject 3cc 0.9% normal saline into saline lock to prevent blood from clotting after drawing samples
6. Obtain serum growth hormone levels every 30 minutes up to 2 hours
7. Terminate IV

GHRH may be administered as an IV bolus injection prior to the arginine and serum growth hormone levels obtained at 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes.

Interpretation: Normal growth hormone results should be > 7 ng / ml in children and > 5ng / ml in adults. Values lower suggest growth hormone deficiency.