Exercise tolerance test. Single-sample screening technique to rule out growth-hormone deficiency.

Parent-directed vigorous exercise was evaluated as a screening test for adequacy of pituitary growth-hormone release in 57 short-statured children. This method obviated the need for pharmacologic provocative testing in all but the four children with growth-hormone deficiency. In 92% of the euendocrine children, the immediate postexercise venous sample demonstrated an adequate growth-hormone level. Vigorous physical exercise after an 8- to 12- hour fast with a single postexercise serum growth-hormone sample is a reliable, safe, and cost-effective screening test for growth-hormone deficiency.