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Test & Collection Guide

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PLEASE NOTE: Recent changes have been made to this Test


 Recent changes for Glucose Tolerance Test (+/- Insulin or Growth Hormone)

Recent changes for Glucose Tolerance Test (+/- Insulin or Growth Hormone)

Date
Field
Changed From
Changed To
27th October 2025
Assay name

Glucose Tolerance Test

Glucose Tolerance Test (+/- Insulin or Growth Hormone)

Alternative names

GTT

GTT, GTT with Insulin, GTT with GH, GTT with Growth Hormone

Request Group

GTT

GTT, GTINS, GTGH

Preferred Specimen Type

Plasma

Plasma
Serum

Preferred Container Type

Fluoride/oxalate tube (grey)

Fluoride/oxalate tube (grey)
Serum tube with gel

Collection & Request Instructions

GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST  

Please note : Patient must phone collection centre in advance as an appointment is essential

Patients are tested for their ability to handle an oral glucose load taken in fasting state by measuring their plasma glucose 2-hours after ingestion.

Patient should be on their normal diet until the day of the test

 The test is done at a time when the patient is free of acute illness

 The test is performed between 0800 and 1000 after a 12-hour overnight fast. Water is permitted during the fasting period but eating, physical activity and smoking must be avoided

 If fasting sample is less than 8mmol/L - proceed with the test

 A 75g glucose load in the form of a single 285 mL bottle of chilled Dextrasol. The time and date of ingestion is noted.

 Ingestion should be completed within 5 minutes.

 Two more venous blood samples are taken at 1-hour intervals, starting exactly 1 hour after completion of ingestion.

Please contact laboratory on 9895 3471 for queries relating to GCT and GTT testing.

GROWTH HORMONE SUPRESSION TEST (OGTT with Growth Hormone/ IGF-1)

Take baseline samples of blood for IGF-1, glucose and GH.

Give bottle of 75 g glucose (or appropriate amount if paediatric patient) which should be drunk within 5 minutes.

Samples are collected at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes for glucose and Growth Hormone. 

 

GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST  

Please note : Patient must phone collection centre in advance as an appointment is essential

Patients are tested for their ability to handle an oral glucose load taken in fasting state by measuring their plasma glucose 2-hours after ingestion.

Patient should be on their normal diet until the day of the test

 The test is done at a time when the patient is free of acute illness

 The test is started between 0800 and 1000 after a 12-hour overnight fast. Water is permitted during the fasting period but eating, physical activity and smoking must be avoided

 Collect a fasting sample for glucose and any other tests on the request form.

 A 75g glucose load in the form of a single 285 mL bottle of chilled Dextrasol. The time and date of ingestion is noted.

 Ingestion should be completed within 5 minutes.

 Two more venous blood samples are taken at 1-hour intervals, starting exactly 1 hour after completion of ingestion.

Please contact laboratory on 9895 3471 for queries relating to  GTT testing.

GTT with Insulin

Patients are tested for their ability to handle an oral glucose load taken in fasting state by measuring their plasma glucose 1 and 2-hours after ingestion.

Patient should be on their normal diet until the day of the test

 The test is done at a time when the patient is free of acute illness

 The test is performed between 0800 and 1000 after a 12-hour overnight fast. Water is permitted during the fasting period but eating, physical activity and smoking must be avoided.

A fasting sample for Glucose and Insulin is taken.

 A 75g glucose load in the form of a single 285 mL bottle of chilled glucose. The time and date of ingestion is noted.

 Ingestion should be completed within 5 minutes.

 Two more venous blood samples for both glucose and insulin are taken at 1-hour intervals, starting exactly 1 hour after completion of ingestion.

GROWTH HORMONE SUPRESSION TEST (OGTT with Growth Hormone/ IGF-1)

Take baseline samples of blood for IGF-1, glucose and GH.

Give bottle of 75 g glucose (or appropriate amount if paediatric patient) which should be drunk within 5 minutes.

Samples are collected at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes for glucose and Growth Hormone. 

 

Processing Instructions

Eastern Health Pathology Collection Rooms:

Collect an initial fasting sample and test blood for Glucose level on the Haemacue

 

 If results are greater than 8 mmol/L - send urgently to the laboratory for analysis.

 

Write on the request form:

Haemacue reading - (write result). Please phone (Phlebotomist name) on (extension number) with result.  

 

Laboratory staff please notify;

Phlebotomist on request form and

Senior Scientist if confirmed as > 8 mmmol/L so they can phone requesting Doctor to inform that GTT will be halted.

External Transport Instructions

Growth Hormone, ACTH and Insulin (if requested) should be transported immediately to the lab.

Notes

The vast majority of Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests (OGTTs) requested are for the diagnosis of glucose intolerance and should be performed and interpreted according to Australian guidelines with fasting, 1hr and 2hr glucose measurements following a 75g glucose load. A small number of requests require variations in this standard protocol and staff must carefully check the request slip to ensure that the correct protocol is followed and the appropriate specimens collected.

 

Where the doctor has requested  ?OGTT ? fasting and 2hour only? then it is o.k. to omit the 1 hour bloods.

 

?OGTT with insulin? is used to investigate insulin resistance. This requires glucose and insulin levels at each time point (i.e. 0, 1 and 2 hours).

?OGTT with Growth Hormone/ IGF-1? is used to diagnose and monitor Acromegaly. This requires glucose and Growth Hormone levels at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

The vast majority of Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests (OGTTs) requested are for the diagnosis of glucose intolerance and should be performed and interpreted according to Australian guidelines with fasting, 1hr and 2hr glucose measurements following a 75g glucose load. A small number of requests require variations in this standard protocol and staff must carefully check the request slip to ensure that the correct protocol is followed and the appropriate specimens collected.

 

Where the doctor has requested  ?OGTT ? fasting and 2hour only? then it is o.k. to omit the 1 hour bloods.

 

OGTT with insulin is used to investigate insulin resistance. This requires glucose and insulin levels at each time point (i.e. 0, 1 and 2 hours).

OGTT with Growth Hormone/ IGF-1 is used to diagnose and monitor Acromegaly. This requires glucose and Growth Hormone levels at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

Glucose Tolerance Test (+/- Insulin or Growth Hormone)

Ordering information:

Please note : Patient must phone collection centre in advance as an appointment is essential for this test.      

Alternate names:
GTT, GTT with GH, GTT with Growth Hormone, GTT with Insulin
Laboratory:
Biochemistry
Test Code:
GTT, GTINS, GTGH
Specimen types:
Plasma
Serum
Container types:
Fluoride/oxalate tube (grey)
Serum tube with gel
Fluoride/oxalate tube (grey)
Collection Instructions:

GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST  

Please note : Patient must phone collection centre in advance as an appointment is essential

Patients are tested for their ability to handle an oral glucose load taken in fasting state by measuring their plasma glucose 2-hours after ingestion.

Patient should be on their normal diet until the day of the test

 The test is done at a time when the patient is free of acute illness

 The test is started between 0800 and 1000 after an 8 -12 - hour overnight fast. Water is permitted during the fasting period but eating, physical activity and smoking must be avoided

 Collect a fasting sample for glucose and any other tests on the request form.

 A 75g glucose load in the form of a single 285 mL bottle of chilled Dextrasol. The time and date of ingestion is noted.

 Ingestion should be completed within 5 minutes.

 Two more venous blood samples are taken at 1-hour intervals, starting exactly 1 hour after completion of ingestion.

Please contact laboratory on 9895 3471 for queries relating to  GTT testing.

GTT with Insulin

Patients are tested for their ability to handle an oral glucose load taken in fasting state by measuring their plasma glucose 1 and 2-hours after ingestion.

Patient should be on their normal diet until the day of the test

 The test is done at a time when the patient is free of acute illness

 The test is performed between 0800 and 1000 after an 8 - 12 - hour overnight fast. Water is permitted during the fasting period but eating, physical activity and smoking must be avoided.

A fasting sample for Glucose and Insulin is taken.

 A 75g glucose load in the form of a single 285 mL bottle of chilled glucose. The time and date of ingestion is noted.

 Ingestion should be completed within 5 minutes.

 Two more venous blood samples for both glucose and insulin are taken at 1-hour intervals, starting exactly 1 hour after completion of ingestion.

GROWTH HORMONE SUPRESSION TEST (OGTT with Growth Hormone/ IGF-1)

Take baseline samples of blood for IGF-1, glucose and GH.

Give bottle of 75 g glucose (or appropriate amount if paediatric patient) which should be drunk within 5 minutes.

Samples are collected at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes for glucose and Growth Hormone. 

 

Notes:

The vast majority of Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests (OGTTs) requested are for the diagnosis of glucose intolerance and should be performed and interpreted according to Australian guidelines with fasting, 1hr and 2hr glucose measurements following a 75g glucose load. A small number of requests require variations in this standard protocol and staff must carefully check the request slip to ensure that the correct protocol is followed and the appropriate specimens collected.

 

Where the doctor has requested  ?OGTT ? fasting and 2hour only? then it is o.k. to omit the 1 hour bloods.

 

OGTT with insulin is used to investigate insulin resistance. This requires glucose and insulin levels at each time point (i.e. 0, 1 and 2 hours).

OGTT with Growth Hormone/ IGF-1 is used to diagnose and monitor Acromegaly. This requires glucose and Growth Hormone levels at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes.

Frequency:
Daily
Result Turnaround Time:
6 hours
Reference Interval:

Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetes Mellitus

(World Health Organisation 1999)

 

  FASTING 2-HOUR POST LOAD
Normal < 6.1 < 7.8
Diabetes Mellitus > 6.9 > 11.0
Impaired Glucose Tolerance < 7.0 7.8 - 11.0
Impaired Fasting Glycaemia 6.1 - 6.9 < 7.8

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM):a diagnosis of GDM is made if one or more of the following glucose levels elevated.

Fasting: >= 5.3 - 6.9   1 hour: >= 10.6  2 hour: >= 9.3 -11.00

Laboratory Use Only
Transport Instructions:

Growth Hormone, ACTH and Insulin (if requested) should be transported immediately to the lab.