Gastrin
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At a Glance
Why Get Tested?
To determine whether you are producing too much gastrin; to help diagnose Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastrin-producing tumors (gastrinomas) or G-cell hyperplasia; to monitor for recurrence of a gastrinoma
When To Get Tested?
When you have peptic ulcers and/or diarrhea and abdominal pain that your healthcare practitioner suspects is caused by excess gastrin; periodically to monitor for a gastrinoma recurrence
Sample Required?
A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm
Test Preparation Needed?
You should fast for 12 hours, including avoiding coffee and caffeine-containing drinks, and avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior to the test. Your health care practitioner may also ask you to refrain from taking certain stomach medications for several days prior to the test. Medications that can increase gastrin levels include antacids, H2-blocking agents (such as cimetidine), and proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole).
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The reference ranges for your tests can be found on your laboratory report. They are typically found to the right of your results.
If you do not have your lab report, consult your healthcare provider or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range.
Laboratory test results are not meaningful by themselves. Their meaning comes from comparison to reference ranges. Reference ranges are the values expected for a healthy person. They are sometimes called “normal” values. By comparing your test results with reference values, you and your healthcare provider can see if any of your test results fall outside the range of expected values. Values that are outside expected ranges can provide clues to help identify possible conditions or diseases.
While accuracy of laboratory testing has significantly evolved over the past few decades, some lab-to-lab variability can occur due to differences in testing equipment, chemical reagents, and techniques. This is a reason why so few reference ranges are provided on this site. It is important to know that you must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are “within normal limits.”
For more information, please read the article Reference Ranges and What They Mean.
What is being tested?
Gastrin is a hormone produced by “G-cells” in the part of the stomach called the antrum. It regulates the production of acid in the body of the stomach during the digestive process. This test measures the amount of gastrin in the blood to help evaluate an individual with recurrent peptic ulcers and/or other serious abdominal symptoms.
When food is eaten, the antrum of the stomach becomes distended and the presence of food stimulates the release of gastrin. Gastrin in turn stimulates parietal cells to produce gastric acid. Acidity helps to digest food and the rise in acidity eventually suppresses gastrin release. This feedback system normally results in low concentrations of gastrin in the blood, especially in the fasting state. Rare conditions such as G-cell hyperplasia and gastrinomas, including Zollinger-Ellison (ZE) syndrome, can cause an overproduction of gastrin and gastric acid. This can lead to aggressive peptic ulcers that can be difficult to treat.
Gastrinomas are gastrin-producing tumors. ZE syndrome is a condition caused by the presence of one or more gastrinomas and is characterized by high gastrin levels, greatly increased gastric acid production, and by peptic ulcers. Gastrinomas usually form in the pancreas, even though the endocrine cells of the pancreas do not normally make gastrin. More than half of them are malignant, causing cancer that can spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver. Even tiny tumors can produce large quantities of gastrin.
How is the sample collected for testing?
A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm.
Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?
You should fast for 12 hours and avoid alcohol for 24 hours prior to the test. Your health care practitioner may also ask you to refrain from taking certain stomach medications for several days prior to the test. Medications that can increase gastrin levels include antacids, H2-blocking agents (such as cimetidine), and proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole). These prevent the normal negative feedback in which acidity suppresses gastrin production.
Common Questions
Related Content
On This Site
Tests: Helicobacter pylori
Elsewhere On The Web
NIDDK: The Digestive System and How it Works
NIDDK: Peptic Ulcers (Stomach Ulcers)
The National Pancreas Foundation: Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome/Gastrinoma
MayoClinic.com: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
GeneReviews: Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
View Sources
Sources Used in Current Review
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (24 July 2015 updated.) Gastrin Blood Test. Available online at https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003697.htm. Accessed March 2017.
Mayo Medical Laboratories. Gastrin, Serum. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Clinical+and+Interpretive/8512. Accessed March 2017.
Devkota BP. (17 January 2014 updated.) Gastrin. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2089092-overview#a4. Accessed March 2017.
Healthwise Staff. (9 September 2014 updated.) Gastrin. Available online at http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/gastrin#1. Accessed March 2017.
Pagana, Kathleen D., Pagana, Timothy J., and Pagana, Theresa N. (© 2015). Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference. 12th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 456-457.
Sources Used in Previous Reviews
Pagana, Kathleen D. & Pagana, Timothy J. (© 2007). Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 8th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 471-472.
Clarke, W. and Dufour, D. R., Editors (2006). Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry, AACC Press, Washington, DC. Pp 301, 303.
Wu, A. (2006). Tietz Clinical Guide to Laboratory Tests, Fourth Edition. Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri. Pp 432-435.
Hurd, R. (2007 October 24). Gastrin. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003697.htm. Accessed on 10/11/08.
Stone, C. (2008 February 20, Updated). Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000325.htm. Accessed on 10/11/08.
Livstone, E. (2007 December, Revised). Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors. Merck Manual Home Edition [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec09/ch131/ch131l.html#sec09-ch131-ch131l-950. Accessed on 10/11/08.
(2008 April). Your Digestive System and How it Works. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse [On-line information]. Available online at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/yrdd/. Accessed on 10/11/08.
Meikle, A. W. (2008 July, Updated). Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome – Gastrinoma. ARUP Consult [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.arupconsult.com/Topics/OncologicDz/NeuroendocrineTumors/Gastrinoma.html#. Accessed on 10/18/08.
Bonheur, J. and Nachimuthu, S. (2006 June 27). Gastrinoma. EMedicine [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.emedicine.com/med/TOPIC2678.HTM. Accessed on 10/11/08.
Dugdale, D. (Updated 2011 August 5). Gastrin – blood test. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003697.htm. Accessed October 2012.
(© 1995-2012). Gastrin, Serum. Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical Laboratories [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/8512. Accessed October 2012.
(Revised 2012 January 13). How is pancreatic cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/PancreaticCancer/DetailedGuide/pancreatic-cancer-diagnosis. Accessed October 2012.
Bishnu D. (Updated 2012 April 10). Gastrin. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2089092-overview. Accessed October 2012.
(Modified 2012 February 6). General Information About Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (Islet Cell Tumors). National Cancer Institute [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/isletcell/patient/. Accessed October 2012.
Bonheur, J. and Nachimuthu, S. (Updated 2012 January 25). Gastrinoma. Medscape Reference [On-line information]. Available online at http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/184332-overview. Accessed October 2012.
(Updated 2012 May 10). Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases [On-line information]. Available online at http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/zollinger/. Accessed October 2012.
Pagana, K. D. & Pagana, T. J. (© 2011). Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 10th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 478-479.
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