$29.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Bone health
PTH test
Parathyroid hormone. Parathyroid hormone — regulates calcium and bone metabolism.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Check before your draw
This marker has no preparation tag, but it can still need preparation. Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
Parathyroid hormone comes from tiny glands in your neck and keeps your blood calcium steady, partly by drawing calcium out of your bones. It’s best read together with a calcium result.
Why it matters for women
Overactive parathyroid glands are more common in women, especially after menopause, and the extra hormone can pull calcium from bone and add to bone loss. Low vitamin D can also push this hormone up. An overactive gland can cause no symptoms and may first be spotted from a high calcium result.
You might check it if…
- a blood test showed high or low calcium
- you’ve had kidney stones
- you’ve been told your bones are thinning
- your vitamin D has come back low
What your result may mean
High PTH: what it may mean
High PTH may mean different things depending on your calcium level. With high calcium, it may point to primary hyperparathyroidism, when one or more parathyroid glands are overactive, which can be more common after menopause. With low or normal calcium, it may point to low vitamin D or chronic kidney disease. Kidney stones, bone pain, tiredness or thirst can occur, and some people may have no symptoms. Lithium and some other medicines can raise it too, so a clinician may check calcium, vitamin D and kidney function together.
Low PTH: what it may mean
Low PTH with low calcium may point to hypoparathyroidism, which can happen after thyroid or neck surgery. Low PTH with high calcium may point to extra calcium coming from another source, such as cancer (malignancy), a granulomatous disease like sarcoidosis, or too much vitamin D (vitamin D toxicity). Low magnesium can also lower PTH, and biotin can interfere with some PTH tests. When calcium runs low, you may notice tingling around the mouth or in the fingers, or muscle cramps.
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No insurance required · HSA/FSA eligible · No subscription
These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.