Lab test · Endocrinology
Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
Calcium & bone hormone
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 2 days
- Home collection
What this test is for
Calcium & bone hormone
PTH is a hormone made by the parathyroid glands, usually four small glands in the neck next to the thyroid. It keeps blood calcium steady by releasing calcium from bones, reducing calcium loss in urine and helping the kidneys activate vitamin D. PTH is almost always measured with calcium, and the two together help your doctor find the cause of a calcium problem and check bone and kidney health.
Why a doctor may order it
- When a blood calcium result is high or low
- To look for an overactive parathyroid gland, a common cause of high calcium
- To monitor bone and mineral health in chronic kidney disease
- As part of the assessment of low vitamin D, osteoporosis or kidney stones
- After neck or thyroid surgery, if calcium falls
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
There is no need to change what you eat or drink. Keep taking your usual medicines, and tell your doctor about calcium, vitamin D or other supplements. Biotin (a hair and nail supplement) can interfere with some PTH tests, so mention it if you take it.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- A trained sample collector draws a small blood sample from a vein in your arm at home. Calcium and vitamin D can often be tested from the same visit if your doctor has requested them.
- Report
- Within 2 days of collection.
What the results can mean
Your PTH result is shown with the laboratory's range and is always read together with calcium. A high PTH with a high calcium suggests an overactive parathyroid gland, while a high PTH with a normal or low calcium is often a response to low vitamin D or kidney disease. A low PTH with a high calcium points to a cause outside the parathyroid glands. Your doctor will interpret these patterns and arrange any further tests.
What's included
One test: Parathyroid Hormone (PTH), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Serum CalciumThis test measures the total amount of calcium in your blood.
- Vitamin D (25-Hydroxy)This test measures 25-hydroxy vitamin D, the main form of vitamin D stored in the body and the standard measure of your vitamin D status.
- Phosphate (Inorganic Phosphorus)This test measures phosphate in your blood.
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP)Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found mainly in the liver, especially in the cells lining the bile ducts, and in bone.
- Kidney Function Test (RFT)A kidney function test, also called a renal function test (RFT), is a group of blood tests that show how well your kidneys are filtering waste from the blood.
- Cortisol (Morning)Stress hormone, adrenal function৳550
Questions people ask
Why is PTH checked together with calcium?
PTH and calcium control each other. The level of one only makes sense next to the other, so doctors read them as a pair to find the cause of a calcium problem.
Can low vitamin D raise PTH?
Yes. When vitamin D is low, less calcium is absorbed from food and the parathyroid glands make more PTH to keep blood calcium steady. This is called secondary hyperparathyroidism.
What is hyperparathyroidism?
It means the parathyroid glands make too much PTH. It is often found on a routine blood test showing high calcium, and if not managed it can lead to thinning bones or kidney stones.
How much does a PTH test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳750, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the PTH test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the PTH report take?
The report is usually ready within 2 days of the sample being collected.