Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1) LIS Code: IGF-1
Private IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) blood test £80: a steady guide to growth hormone activity. Any time of day, no GP referral. Slough, Victoria, Neasden.
Before your test
Test Categories
About this test
IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) is a hormone made mainly by the liver when growth hormone tells it to. Growth hormone itself is released in short bursts, mostly during sleep, so a single growth hormone reading can be misleading. IGF-1 stays much steadier through the day, which makes it the usual first test for how much growth hormone your body is producing overall.
Why people have an IGF-1 test
- Possible growth hormone excess, for example gradual enlargement of the hands, feet or facial features, a deeper voice or excessive sweating.
- Possible growth hormone deficiency in adults, which can cause tiredness, reduced muscle, increased body fat and low energy.
- Children's growth, when a child is growing much more slowly or quickly than expected. This is usually done with a paediatric specialist.
- Monitoring a known pituitary condition or treatment, as agreed with your specialist.
- Health and fitness tracking, alongside other hormones, as part of a wider picture of recovery and body composition.
Understanding your result
IGF-1 changes a lot with age: it is highest in teenage years and falls steadily through adulthood. Your result is reported against the laboratory's age-related range, so a figure that is normal at 60 could be low at 25.
- A high result can point to too much growth hormone and is normally followed up by a doctor with further tests.
- A low result can be caused by low growth hormone, but also by poor nutrition, recent illness, an underactive thyroid, liver problems or poorly controlled diabetes. These are worth ruling out before drawing conclusions.
How it works at VitaLync
- £80 for the test, plus a £25 blood draw at our Slough, Victoria or Neasden clinic, or a nurse visit at home or work.
- You can book any time of day, and no fasting is needed. It helps to eat normally in the days before, as a very low food intake can lower IGF-1.
- The laboratory usually reports IGF-1 within about 5 days, and your result appears in your secure online account.
Common questions
Should I test growth hormone instead? For most people IGF-1 is the better first test, because growth hormone levels rise and fall many times a day. A growth hormone test is more useful as part of a specialist's dynamic testing.
What else is worth checking? Because thyroid and sex hormones affect energy and body composition too, many people add a TSH test or, for men, our Testosterone Profile. If you'd like your result explained, book a GP consultation.
