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HelpTest Code PTHWCA PTH, Intact and Calcium, LAB813
Performing Laboratory
St. Luke's Hospital Cedar Rapids
Specimen Requirements
If PTH with calcium is needed, EDTA plasma can not be used for the calcium portion.
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Plain, Red top serum Lavender-top (EDTA) tube
Acceptable: Lavender-top (EDTA) tube for PTHIN, Lithium heparin for calcium
Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL plus dead volume
Stability: Because of the instability of PTH in unseparated serum, serum tubes should be centrifuged immediately. In contrast, PTH was found to be stable for 24 hours at room temperature in whole blood anticoagulated with EDTA.
Do not use Hemolyzed samples.
Reference Values
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Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Useful For
Measurement of intact PTH is useful in differentiating between hypercalcemia due to hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia of malignancy. However, the assay is not intended as and should not be relied upon as a diagnostic indicator of malignancy.
Methodology
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Test Classification and CPT Coding
83970
82310
Report Available
STAT within 1 hour upon receipt
Routine within 2 hours upon receipt