What the risks are:

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

Special considerations:

Growth hormone measurements are usually combined with other laboratory tests, such as IGF-1 levels or tests such as GHRH stimulation tests.

Because growth hormone levels can change quite a bit over the course of a day, the test is often repeated several times to get a better picture of average levels.