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Print CPT 82947; 82950
Synonyms
- Fasting, Two-hour Glucose Tolerance Test
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Test Details
Turnaround Time
Within1 day
Use
The GTT only establishes the presence of glucose intolerance. It is used in patients with borderline fasting and postprandial glucose to support or rule out the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Some use it in unexplained hypertriglyceridemia, neuropathy, impotence, diabetes-like renal diseases, retinopathy, reevaluation of prior diagnosis made under substandard conditions and with necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum.
The OGTT is used to work up glycosuria with- out hyperglycemia (eg, to work up renal glycosuria). It is used to predict perinatal morbidity in pregnancy, to diagnose gestational diabetes. Risks of fetal abnormality and perinatal mortality are increased with abnormal carbohydrate metabolism in pregnancy.
When a glucose level <50 mg/dL coincides with symptoms of hypoglycemia, a six-hour glucose tolerance test is advocated,1 but many consider the alternative better. Glucose intolerance is due to obesity in some subjects. Abnormal curves may be caused by Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, or acromegaly.
Emesis is probably an indication to cancel the remainder of a GGT for that day; decision is up to the patient's physician. Excessive growth hormone, adrenocortical and thyroid hormones, and catecholamines cause decreased glucose tolerance. Diabetes is much more than glucose intolerance, but until now we have not been able to measure other factors pertinent to prediction of the complications of diabetes. The glucose tolerance test lacks specificity and sensitivity for the complications of diabetes mellitus. Some feel that it only determines glucose intolerance. Impaired glucose tolerance is a quasi-entity; 1% to 5% of such patients become overtly diabetic yearly. Such patients have increased risk for cardiovascular disease. An increased prevalence of idiopathic hemochromatosis exists in the diabetic population compared to the general population.
Limitations
Few indications still meet wide acceptance. Slight hyperglycemic effect is seen in patients on oral contraceptives. Failure to have patient on three-day high carbohydrate diet may result in a false-positive GTT. Impaired glucose tolerance is not equivalent to diabetes mellitus. A normal result does not ensure that diabetes will not subsequently develop.
Methodology
Enzymatic
References
Alberti KG, Zimmet PZ. Definition, diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus and its complications, Part 1: Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus provisional report of a WHO consultation. Diabet Med. 1998 Jul; 15(7): 539-553. 9686693
American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes—2015: Summary of revisions. Diabetes Care. 2015 Jan; 38(Suppl 1):S4. 25537706
Forest JC, Garrido-Russo M, LeMay A, Carrier R, Dube JL. Reference values for the oral glucose tolerance test at each trimester of pregnancy. Am J Clin Pathol. 1983 Dec; 80(6):823-831. 6356879
Hare JW. Gestational diabetes mellitus. Levels of glycemia as management goals. Diabetes. 1991 Dec; 40(Suppl 2):193-196. 1748258
Lindsay MK, Graves W, Klein L. The relationship of one abnormal glucose tolerance test value and pregnancy complications. Obstet Gynecol. 1989 Jan; 73(1):103-106. 2909030
Neiger R, Coustan DR. The role of repeat glucose tolerance tests in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1991 Oct; 165(4 Pt1):787-790. 1951534
Phelps G, Chapman I, Hall P, Braund W, Mackinnon M. Prevalence of genetic hemochromatosis among diabetic patients. Lancet. 1989 Jul 29; 2(8657):233-234. 2569052
Singer DE, Coley CM, Samet JH, Nathan DM. Tests of glycemia in diabetes mellitus. Their use in establishing diagnosis and treatment. Ann Intern Med. 1989 Jan 15; 110(2):125-137. 2642375
Specimen Requirements
Information on collection, storage, and volume
Specimen
Serum or plasma
Volume
1 mL serum or plasma each tube
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL serum or plasma each tube
Container
Gel-barrier tubes (2) or gray-top (sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate plasma) tubes (2)
Storage Instructions
Maintain specimen at room temperature.
Causes for Rejection
Stressed patient (surgery, infection, corticosteroids) should not have GTT; specimens not labeled with collection time intervals (ie, fasting, and two-hour)
Collection
Draw a fasting blood sample before administering glucose. Administer a 75-gram glucose and draw blood after two hours. The patient should remain seated throughout the test. Submit 1 mL serum or plasma for fasting and two-hour specimens. Separate serum or plasma from cells within 45 minutes of venipuncture. Gray-top tubes only, may be submitted without centrifugation. Label each tube with the patient's name and collection time interval. (ie, fasting and two-hour).