Parathyroid Hormone Test
Testing Your Parathyroid Hormone Level
What is Parathyroid Hormone?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH or “intact PTH”) along with other hormones helps the body balance calcium levels. Calcium is extremely important for the optimal health of our hearts, bones, brain, muscles and affects virtually every cell in our bodies, however, too much calcium can be damaging.
Why Order PTH Yourself?
Classically, PTH is ordered when blood tests for calcium are abnormally elevated/low or if you are monitoring PHT levels after having a parathyroid tumor surgery. There may be other tests that your doctor may want to run, however, ordering them online before your doctor’s visit saves both time and money (see “Why Order Lab Tests Online”).
Other Lab Tests
Since PTH helps determine calcium absorption, knowing your calcium levels is extremely important. Also, there is a close association between PTH and vitamin D. PTH activates vitamin D causing an increase of calcium in the blood, therefore, the active form of vitamin D should also be tested regularly.
What’s Being Tested:
- Parathyroid Hormone (PTH, Intact and Calcium)
Fasting: No
Specimen Type: Blood (Draw Location | How It Works | FAQs)
Important Notes:
- This test cannot be collected in NY, NJ, MA, and RI. Contact us with questions.
