[d87]

-- Construct your saarch pattern based on the existing global string:
local S_ITEM_LEVEL   = "^" .. gsub(ITEM_LEVEL, "%%d", "(%%d+)")
local strmatch = string.match
 
-- Create the tooltip:
local scantip = CreateFrame("GameTooltip", "MyScanningTooltip", nil, "GameTooltipTemplate")
scantip:SetOwner(UIParent, "ANCHOR_NONE")
 
local function GetItemLevelFromTooltip(itemLink)
    -- Pass the item link to the tooltip:
    scantip:SetHyperlink(itemLink)
 
    -- Scan the tooltip:
    for i = 2, scantip:NumLines() do -- Line 1 is always the name so you can skip it.
        local text = _G["MyScanningTooltipTextLeft"..i]:GetText()
        if text and text ~= "" then
        local itemLevel = strmatch(text, S_ITEM_LEVEL)
            if itemLevel then
                return itemLevel
            end
        end
    end
end