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Human Growth Hormone (hGH) Unit Converter
Human Growth Hormone (hGH), or Somatotropin, is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It is vital for stimulating growth in children, regulating body composition, and influencing metabolism (e.g., increasing blood glucose and lipolysis). HGH is released in short pulses throughout the day, making single random measurements unreliable.
Clinically, hGH testing is used to diagnose Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) or Growth Hormone Excess (Acromegaly/Gigantism). Diagnosis requires dynamic testing, such as stimulation tests (for GHD) or suppression tests (using oral glucose for acromegaly). Due to assay standardization issues, conversion factors between mass (ng/mL) and activity (mIU/L) are approximate.
Standard / Molar Units
RecommendedPicomoles per liter or Nanograms per milliliter.
Activity / Mass Equivalents
Clinical Context
Diagnostic Thresholds:
• Normal/Random: < 3.0 ng/mL
• GHD (Stimulation Test): Peak response < 5.0 ng/mL (or < 10 ng/mL depending on protocol)
• Acromegaly (Suppression Test): hGH level should suppress to < 1.0 ng/mL after oral glucose.
Because hGH levels fluctuate widely, the diagnosis rarely relies on random values. IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1) is a more stable indicator of average hGH activity. The molar conversion relies on MW 22,000 g/mol: 1 ng/mL ≈ 45.45 pmol/L.
Clinical References
How to Use This Calculator
Follow these steps to get accurate clinical conversions instantly.
Enter Values
Input your laboratory results into the corresponding unit field (e.g., ng/mL). You can use either dot or comma decimals.
Automatic Conversion
The calculator works in real-time. Conversions between mass (ng/mL) and activity (mIU/mL) are approximate due to standardization differences.
Verify Units
Check the SI Units section. ng/mL is numerically identical to µg/L.
Reset
Use the Clear button to reset all fields before starting a new calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
Yes. 1 ng/mL is exactly equal to 1 µg/L.
HGH is released in short pulses, making single measurements meaningless. Provocative tests (using Arginine, Clonidine, or Insulin) are required for diagnosis.