THE PARATHYROID HORMONE TEST

There will come a time that you will sense that the world had just taken you for granted… that there are so many goals but you don’t have the vigour to reach… that everything you seem to like feels so unlikeable… that you feel like you want to stretch out on your bed during the day, but can’t sleep during the night… and the hardest part is you don’t understand why such sensation exist!

These are some of the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism. Hyperparathyroidism is a disorder in our four parathyroid glands, specifically its function of secreting hormone called parathormone. In this condition, there is an elevated secretion of parathormone, which can lead to high serum calcium which is then called hypercalcemia. Other than calcium levels, abnormalities in parathormone levels in the bloodstream affects the phosphate levels, bone matrix formation, vitamin D activation, kidneys and intestines.

Well, symptoms do not merely diagnose such disease. God made the man knowledgeable; man made the interventions. Nowadays, there are several tests in which we can definitely screen and confirm diseases. One of which is the PARATHYROID HORMONE TEST.

Ever wonder if what is this test all about?

Parathyroid hormone test is, simply put, a quantitative test that determine the parathyroid hormone levels in the bloodstream. Its method of measurement are radioimmunoassay (RIA), intact molecule assay and middle molecule assay.

Its clinical implications, as I have mentioned earlier, are hyperparathyroidism, abnormal calcium and phosphate levels, problems in the bones, kidneys and intestines, and vitamin D deficiency.

The preparation for this test is basically be a patient and be patient. Being a patient doesn’t mean you have to wait for your doctor or a medical technologist to give you instructions on how to prepare before the test. You have to be aware of what you will undergo and what reminders you should take in considerations. You have to be patient and follow the rules before taking the test.

Basically, eating or drinking (except for water) is prohibited for about eight to ten hours (some laboratories require ten to twelve hours) before performing the test. It is preferred to be done right after the patient wakes up. This is because parathyroid glands secret hormones promptly after getting up.

Venous blood is the specimen of choice. Venipuncture will be done so expect to be uncomfortable during the extraction of blood. The medical technologist should be aware of patient before-and after-care.

Normal values are variable because every laboratory has its own standards. For normal values, click here. Sometimes, results are released after 1 to 2 days.

So what does your test results mean?

Elevation in parathormone level is caused by many factors: hyperplasia in parathyroid gland, intestinal and kidney cancer, decreased calcium levels in the bloodstream, intestinal malfunction and vitamin D deficiency.

On the other hand, decreased level of parathormone happens when there is destruction in the parathyroid glands, or when vitamin D or calcium levels are in the blood so high.

---
There is a continuous and nonstop discovery and modification in the measurement of parathormone. See how man made answers to every questions, but don't forget to seek God. Because sometimes the magnificent answers do not come from man, but from God. :)

REFERENCES:
Clinical Chemistry: A Fundamental Textbook by Donald Calbreath, pages 390-391
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/parathyroid-hormone?page=3

Photos by:
Elja Vellekoop
Lori Greig
caroline_1