IGF 1, LC/MS

Other names: IGF I, LC/MS

check icon Optimal Result: 52 - 328 ng/mL.

 

This test measures levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC/MS), one of the most accurate and specific testing methods available. IGF-1 plays a critical role in growth, metabolism, and cellular repair, and its levels reflect growth hormone (GH) activity in the body.


Why Is IGF-1 Testing Important?

IGF-1 testing is used to:

  • Evaluate growth disorders in children and adults

  • Diagnose and monitor acromegaly (excess growth hormone)

  • Support diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD)

  • Guide and monitor GH or IGF-1 replacement therapy


Clinical Insights

  • High IGF-1 levels may indicate acromegaly, a condition where the body produces too much growth hormone. IGF-1 levels are used both for diagnosis and to monitor treatment after surgery or with medications (e.g., somatostatin analogs, pegvisomant).

  • Low IGF-1 levels may suggest growth hormone deficiency (GHD), especially in individuals with multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies or genetic conditions.

  • IGF-1 is also useful in adjusting GH replacement therapy in both children and adults.


Why LC/MS Testing Is Superior

Most IGF-1 tests use immunoassays, which can give inaccurate results due to interference from IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs). LC/MS testing offers several advantages:

  • Highly specific: Accurately measures intact IGF-1, minimizing interference from IGFBPs.

  • Sensitive and reliable: Offers excellent precision with a coefficient of variation (CV) ≤5%.

  • Detects rare IGF-1 variants, which may be missed by immunoassays.

  • Standardized to WHO reference materials for consistent, comparable results.

Note: LC/MS may yield lower IGF-1 levels than traditional immunoassays. This is due to technical differences, not necessarily a reflection of true biological variance. Always use the same method consistently for monitoring over time.


Who Should Be Tested?

This test is appropriate for individuals who may have:

  • Short stature or delayed growth in children

  • Gigantism or acromegaly symptoms (enlarged hands/feet, facial changes)

  • Pituitary tumors or prior pituitary surgery

  • Suspected adult growth hormone deficiency (especially with panhypopituitarism)

  • Ongoing GH or IGF-1 therapy needing dosage adjustment


How the Test Works

  • Sample Type: Serum

  • Method: High-resolution LC/MS with isotope-labeled internal standards

  • Analytical Range: 10–2,000 ng/mL

  • Reference Ranges: Adjusted by age and sex, based on data from over 2,000 individuals

This method dissociates IGF-1 from its binding proteins and recovers nearly 100% of total IGF-1 for accurate measurement.


Understanding Your IGF-1 Results

Results are interpreted using Z-scores, which compare your IGF-1 level to the average for your age and sex.

  • Z > +2.0: Suggests GH excess (e.g., acromegaly or over-treatment)

  • Z between -2.0 and +2.0: Normal IGF-1 level

  • Z < -2.0: Suggests GH deficiency or under-treatment

A normal IGF-1 level does not fully exclude acromegaly or GHD. Follow-up testing (e.g., glucose suppression or GH stimulation) may be required in some cases.


Key Considerations

  • Stay consistent: Use the same assay method over time to monitor treatment.

  • Don’t switch platforms without consulting your provider, as values may differ significantly between LC/MS and immunoassays.

  • Rare IGF-1 variants, if present, are reported separately and may affect interpretation but are uncommon (<1% prevalence).

All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.

Laboratories

Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place

We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.

lab corp logo
genova diagnostics logo
quest diagnostics logo
dutch test logo
doctors data logo
vibrant america logo
diagnostic solutions logo
zrt laboratory logo
the great plains laboratory logo
cyrex laboratories logo
spectracell logo

Pricing Table

decoration

Personal plans

$15/ month

Complete Plan

Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Begin with first report entered
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

$250/ once

Unlimited Account

Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track all results with visual tools
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export your full lab history anytime
  • Share results securely with anyone
  • Receive 10 reports entered for you
  • Skip the $15/month subscription — no recurring payments ever

$45/ month

Pro Monthly

Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports

  • Import lab results from any provider
  • Track lab results for multiple clients
  • Customize reference ranges per client
  • Export lab histories and reports
  • Begin with first report entered by us
  • Cancel or upgrade anytime

About membership

What's included in a Healthmatters membership

microscope icon Import Lab Results from Any Source

person icon See Your Health Timeline

book icon Understand What Your Results Mean

textbook icon

textbook icon Visualize Your Results

folder icon

folder icon

card icon Securely Share With Anyone You Trust

Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story

What Healthmatters Members Are Saying

5 stars rating

I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with  any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.

Anthony

Unlimited Plan Member since 2021

5 stars rating

What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!

Karin

Advanced Plan Member since 2020

5 stars rating

As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!

Paul

Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024

Use promo code to save 10% off any plan.

Frequently asked questions

Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.

  • Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
  • Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.

With a Healthmatters account, you can:

  • Upload lab reports from any lab
  • View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
  • Track trends and monitor changes over time
  • Customize your reference ranges
  • Export and share your full lab history
  • Access your results anytime, from any device

Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.

Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:

  • The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
  • GI-MAP,
  • The NutrEval FMV®,
  • The ION Profile,
  • Amino Acids Profile,
  • Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
  • Organic Acids Test,
  • Organix Comprehensive Profile,
  • Toxic Metals,
  • Complete Blood Count (CBC),
  • Metabolic panel,
  • Thyroid panel,
  • Lipid Panel,
  • Urinalysis,
  • And many, many more.

You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.

If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.

shield icon

We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.

At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

gdpr compliance image hipaa compliance image