Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA 02215
Department of Pathology
Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions Sheet for Intraoperative PTH Testing
Patient name: _______________________________________________
Date and Time of Surgery: ____________________________________
Schedule procedure with the Chemistry Lab at least one week in advance by calling Ms.
Tammy Galloway, Clinical Manager, Chemistry, at 617-667-1452.
Please provide the following information:
Patient name (and, if available, BIDMC medical record number)
Date of procedure
OR Location (Shapiro vs Feldberg)
Surgeon’s name
ICD9 Code (Patient’s Diagnosis)
1. What tube do I draw?
You must use a lavender-top tube (EDTA anticoagulant). It’s best to use the “5ml
draw” version, because it simplifies processing in the lab.
Whichever lavender-top tube you use, though, the tube must be allowed to fill
completely by vacuum. Underfilled tubes will falsely lower the result (by as much
as 30%!), which would make serial levels very difficult to interpret).
2. When should levels be drawn?
A sample should be drawn before the procedure begins. In addition to the normal
labeling (patient name, medical record number, time drawn, etc.), label both the tube
and the requisition as BASELINE.
A second sample should be drawn at least 10 minutes post excision. Again, in
addition to the normal labeling, indicate on the requisition and the tube the number of
minutes elapsed between completion of excision and drawing the blood sample (e.g.,
10 MIN POST-EXCISION).
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA 02215
Department of Pathology
Clinical Chemistry Laboratory
Frequently Asked Questions Sheet for Intraoperative PTH Testing
3. What requisition do I use?
PTH is not listed on any requisition, so you should use the pink Whole Blood/Blood
Gas requisition and write in ‘PTH INTRAOPERATIVE’.
Please include the phone number of the OR so the results can be called back as soon
as they are ready (20-30 minutes after we receive the sample).
4. Where do I send the sample?
Send each sample immediately after it is drawn to STATION 10 (Blood Gas) using
the pneumatic tube system.
5. What phone number do I call if I have questions?
Prior to the procedure, you should call 617-667-1452. On the day of the procedure,
you should call 617-667-5326.
More information about this assay is available in the on-line BIDMC Lab Manual.
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