One 7.5 mL serum separator tube (SST). Also acceptable: One 5 mL red top tube.
Handling:
Allow to clot, centrifuge using a refrigerated centrifuge, if possible, and separate serum from cells . Keep serum refrigerated. Freeze if testing cannot be performed within 8 hours of collection. Allow no more than one freeze/thaw cycle.
Stability:
8 hours refrigerated or 2 months frozen at –20° C.
Standard Volume:
1 mL serum.
Minimum Volume:
0.5 mL serum.
Transport:
Specimen must be kept refrigerated and received in lab within 8 hours of collection. If transport is delayed, frozen and transported on dry ice.
Comments:
PTH (intact) is primarily used for the differential diagnosis of hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia. It is also used to evaluate parathyroid function in patients with chronic renal failure and disorders of bone and mineral metabolism.
Rejection Criteria:
Specimens not collected, processed or transported according to protocol; gross lipemia or hemolysis; specimen frozen and thawed more than once; refrigerated specimen received in laboratory more than 8 hours after collection.