What's this test for?

This test is ideal if you're experiencing unexplained fatigue, slow muscle recovery after workouts, difficulty building or maintaining muscle mass, or concerns about growth and development. It helps identify whether your body is producing adequate growth hormone activity, which affects your energy levels, metabolism, body composition, and overall vitality. Many athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and people concerned with anti-aging use this test to understand their hormonal health and optimize their performance.

What happens after I get my results?

You'll receive detailed doctor notes in simple language explaining what your IGF-1 levels mean for your growth, muscle development, metabolism, and energy. These notes include personalized recommendations like nutrition strategies, exercise modifications, sleep optimization, or whether you should consider consulting an endocrinologist about growth hormone status. You'll also get the standard lab report with age-adjusted Z-scores, and can track your IGF-1 levels over time using our trends feature to see how your lifestyle changes or interventions are working.

What's included in this test?

This test measures IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1, also called Somatomedin-C), Z-Score (Female), and Z-Score (Male). IGF-1 is produced by your liver in response to growth hormone and provides a stable indicator of your average growth hormone levels and activity, which directly impact muscle growth, metabolism, fat burning, and tissue repair. The test also includes Z-scores adjusted for your age and sex, helping you understand how your levels compare to healthy individuals in your demographic.

How should I prepare for this test?

No fasting is needed for this test. You can eat and drink normally before your blood draw. Simply schedule your appointment at a convenient time and arrive ready to have your blood sample collected. The test uses advanced LC/MS technology for precise measurement of your IGF-1 levels.

Who should consider getting this test?

This test is valuable for athletes and fitness enthusiasts tracking muscle growth and recovery, adults concerned about anti-aging and declining energy levels, and anyone experiencing symptoms of growth hormone deficiency like persistent fatigue or difficulty maintaining muscle mass. It's also useful for people with a history of pituitary disorders, those monitoring nutritional status, or anyone who wants to understand their metabolic and growth hormone function.

What symptoms indicate I may need this test?

Common symptoms include persistent fatigue that doesn't improve with rest, difficulty building or maintaining muscle despite regular exercise, slower recovery after workouts, unexplained weight gain (especially around the midsection), reduced stamina or endurance, poor sleep quality, and feeling like you're aging faster than you should. Some people also notice decreased motivation, reduced bone density, or changes in body composition with more fat and less muscle.

How can I naturally support healthy IGF-1 levels?

Regular resistance training and high-intensity interval exercise can help boost growth hormone and IGF-1 production naturally. Prioritize 7-9 hours of quality sleep, as growth hormone is primarily released during deep sleep. Ensure adequate protein intake (especially from quality sources like lean meats, fish, eggs, and dairy), manage stress levels, and maintain a healthy body weight since excess body fat can suppress growth hormone production.

What is IGF-1 and why does it matter?

IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1) is a hormone produced mainly by your liver in response to growth hormone from your pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in cell growth, muscle development, bone health, metabolism, and tissue repair throughout your body. Because IGF-1 levels remain more stable in your blood than growth hormone itself, measuring IGF-1 provides a reliable picture of your average growth hormone activity and helps identify conditions related to growth hormone excess or deficiency.

What does low IGF-1 mean?

Low IGF-1 levels may indicate growth hormone deficiency, which can result from pituitary gland problems or other hormonal issues. This can manifest as fatigue, reduced muscle mass, increased body fat, slower recovery from exercise, decreased bone density, and reduced overall vitality. Low IGF-1 can also occur with undernutrition or malnutrition, as your body needs adequate protein and calories to produce IGF-1.

What does high IGF-1 mean?

Elevated IGF-1 levels may indicate excess growth hormone production, which can occur with conditions like acromegaly (a pituitary tumor that produces too much growth hormone). Symptoms might include enlarged hands or feet, facial changes, joint pain, or excessive sweating. While high IGF-1 is less common than low levels, it requires medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

How often should I retest my IGF-1 levels?

If you're being treated for growth hormone deficiency or excess, your doctor will typically monitor IGF-1 every 3-6 months to ensure treatment is working properly. For athletes or fitness enthusiasts tracking performance and recovery, testing every 6-12 months can help assess whether training and nutrition strategies are effective. If you're using this test to evaluate symptoms like fatigue or muscle loss, retesting in 3-6 months after implementing lifestyle changes can show whether your interventions are working.

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.Long story short: In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want. If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test. Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout. If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want. When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system. Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way. You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy! If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

How do I know which test to get?

In the test options, find the test you want. If you’re not sure which test to get, we can lend a hand in finding the right option. Just text or call us at 754-799-7833, email us at support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you. We've got your back and reply quickly.

When will my lab results be available?

Most test results will be available within 1–3 business days. Once they're ready, we'll send an email and text message to let you know. After your blood draw, just hang tight and don't worry – we'll keep you updated and in the loop! If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com, and we'll gladly help you.

Is it possible to make changes to my lab order if I made a mistake with the name, date of birth, or any other details?

Absolutely! We totally understand that errors can happen. No worries, we're here to help you. Just reach out to us via text at 754-799-7833 or shoot us an email at support@privatemdlabs.com. Remember to include your order number and let us know the correct information you’d like to update. Our awesome team will jump right in and make sure everything is sorted out and accurate for you. There are no changes necessary if your address is wrong on the requisition though. We don’t mail anything out. Our lab requires an address to be listed to generate an order.

Do you accept health insurance?

Only HSA & FSA is accepted. Our services are strictly self-pay and cannot be submitted to your health insurance provider except for Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Savings Accounts. This policy applies to all insurance companies, including federal health insurance programs like Medicare. If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com.

Can I cancel my order?

Yes. We get it – sometimes your needs change. As long as your samples haven’t been collected yet, we’re happy to help you cancel your order. If you have any further questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com. You can read more about our cancellation policy here.

How can I find a lab location near me?

During the ordering process, you’ll be able to select a specific lab near you, with no strings attached! You can switch it up later easily and visit any of our authorized locations as long as it’s the same lab company you selected your test for (Quest Diagnostics or Labcorp). Before you proceed with your order, feel free to browse through all our lab locations here. This will give you the peace of mind of knowing that there's a lab nearby your home, office or your favorite gym. If you have any questions, please text us at 754-799-7833 or email support@privatemdlabs.com and we'll gladly help you.

IGF-1 Test - Muscle Growth & Energy Levels

Getting your blood test with us is easy, private & backed by the power of science.

Long story short:

In the test options, use the filters or search box to narrow your choices and find the test you want.
If you need a hand navigating through options, text our super friendly support team at 754-799-7833, and we'll provide tailored suggestions to help you find the ideal test.
Once your order is placed, we’ll create your doctor’s lab order remotely, without any need for you to make a trip to a doctor in person or to talk to the doctor. Expect to receive your doctor’s lab order right in your inbox. It will also be in your patient portal if you need to find it later. We’ll also include instructions regarding fasting and other requirements for your test. Your patient portal will be auto-created hassle-free during checkout.
If this is your first time ordering, you'll be prompted to create a password for instant login access to your patient portal. It's a quick way to conveniently access your orders and results whenever you want.
When you’re ready, visit one of our 4,000 locations. Just bring your ID – no printing or faxing of your lab order is needed, as your order and details will already be in the lab system.
Note that most lab locations don’t accept walk-ins, so it’s best to book an appointment in advance. Don’t worry – we’ll provide detailed instructions along the way.
You’ll get your results via email & SMS and dive into understanding your body better. Yup, that easy!

754-799-7833

[email protected]

IGF-1 Test for Muscle Growth and Low Energy

Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (IGF-I, LC/MS)

90 day happiness guarantee

Prescription & fees included

Easy to understand results

Fast & convenient

90 day happiness guarantee

Prescription & fees included

Easy to understand results

Fast & convenient

What's this test for?

How should I prepare for this test?

What's included in this test?

Here’s why 1,000,000+ customers chose us for affordable hassle-free private blood testing.

IGF-1 Test for Muscle Growth and Low Energy

90 day happiness guarantee

Prescription & fees included

Easy to understand results

Fast & convenient

1,000,000+ blood tests later, here's what our customers say