A parathyroid hormone test is a blood test that measures the amount of PTH in your blood. Made by 4 tiny parathyroid glands located in the neck, the parathyroid hormone controls calcium levels in the blood. A parathyroid hormone blood test by detecting abnormal calcium levels helps your doctor figure out whether your abnormal calcium levels are caused by your parathyroid glands or is it due to some other reason. If PTH levels are accurate, then there may be some other cause of high or low calcium levels.
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When Does A Medical Practitioner Recommend A PTH Test?
Your doctor may recommend this blood test if you are showing symptoms of too much calcium (hypercalcemia) or too little calcium (hypocalcemia) in your blood.
Symptoms Of Hypercalcemia are:
- Abdominal pain
- Excessive thirst
- Stones in the kidney
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Muscle pain
- Bone pain
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Symptoms of hypocalcemia are:
- Depression
- Muscle spasms
- Irregular heartbeat
- Tingling or numbness in your arms or around your mouth
- Constant pain in legs
How To Prepare For The Test?
The process of the test is relatively simple. You may be asked to stop taking certain prescription and over-the-counter medications or supplements the day before or the day of the test by your medical practitioner. In most cases, blood is taken from a vein in your arm. A rubber band around your upper arm first is tied and only a little blood is needed for a PTH test. Once enough blood has been drawn, it is sent to a lab to be measured for PTH, calcium, minerals, hormones, or many other substances.
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Results Of The PTH Test
Three forms of PTH are measured through this testing. The results are described in picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Speak with your healthcare provider about the results and what they mean. In general, the normal Intact molecule is 10 to 65 pg/mL. High PTH levels could be caused by overactive parathyroid glands also called hyperparathyroidism, low vitamin D, chronic kidney disease, or low calcium levels due to some other underlying health condition unrelated to parathyroid glands.
A low PTH level could be due to underactive parathyroid glands. This is also referred to as hypoparathyroidism. The reason for this issue can be autoimmune diseases, high calcium unrelated to parathyroid glands, low magnesium levels, or some recent surgery. Depending on the abnormality of your PTH levels, your doctor may advise some more tests or even an X-ray or imaging test to examine your parathyroid glands.
Risks
PTH blood test risks are very minor. The pain is very little at the time when blood is drawn. Also, like with any blood test, there is a slight chance of infection or bruising. The test has many benefits. Primarily, the doctor gets to rule out if this is the cause of your abnormal calcium levels or if some other test is needed. On the other hand, it has many benefits. A PTH blood test lets your doctor know whether your body might be making too little or too much parathyroid hormone. This helps to rule out parathyroid disease.
Disclaimer
The content provided here is for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance does not endorse or recommend any specific tests, physicians, procedures, opinions, or other information mentioned on the blog.
